City Park Public Access

[parachiteadams39]

You are of course welcome to your opinion of the laws as they stand.

But the fact is that the laws as they stand treat a non-navigable stream running through private property differently from a public sidewalk. Again, you may disagree with the law, but the law is the law.

The analogy I would make along the lines of the one you've made would be the walk going up to your front door. It's connected to and similar in appearance to the public sidewalk but uncategorically your property. If someone walks on the city side walk that's one thing. If someone plops down on the sidewalk in your front yard and decides to have a picnic (or go fishing) that's another.

[eric1978]

But the fact is that the laws as they stand treat a non-navigable stream running through private property differently from a public sidewalk. Again, you may disagree with the law, but the law is the law.

Yeah, the law is the law. 150 years ago, the law said you could enslave people. 80 years ago, the law said women couldn't vote. And today, if you get caught with an ounce of pot three times in California, you go to jail for the rest of your life. The law is the law...but that doesn't necessarily make it right.

[ness]

Trespassing is an art. Spouting law isn't artful.

[parachiteadams39]

Hmm. Trespassing as art.

That sort of sums up the attitude that makes private land owners close their land to everyone, even the honest folks (like our original poster) who are trying to do right, who don't want to tresspass and who ask persmission before going on private land.

As for the point regarding slavery:

I'd say comparing your desire to go fishing on other people's land to the injustice of slavery is, at best, a stretch,

[eric1978]

Hmm. Trespassing as art.

That sort of sums up the attitude that makes private land owners close their land to everyone, even the honest folks (like our original poster) who are trying to do right, who don't want to tresspass and who ask persmission before going on private land.

As for the point regarding slavery:

I'd say comparing your desire to go fishing on other people's land to the injustice of slavery is, at best, a stretch,

I'm pretty sure the "trespassing is art" remark is somehow ness' way of poking me, but it's such a convoluted comment that I can't take offense because I don't know what the hell it means. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows?

I wasn't comparing slavery to my desire to fish on private streams...I was making the point that not all laws are necessarily good ones simply because they exist. If they opened up private streams for public use, 100 years from now people would be baffled when they are told that at one time they couldn't fish wherever a stream wandered. Unfortunately, this country is slowly moving in the opposite direction, and eventually things will be so locked up by private ownership that there will be a surcharge for a plane ticket to pay someone for flying through the airspace they own.

[FishinCricket]

I'm pretty sure the "trespassing is art" remark is somehow ness' way of poking me, but it's such a convoluted comment that I can't take offense because I don't know what the hell it means. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows?

I wasn't comparing slavery to my desire to fish on private streams...I was making the point that not all laws are necessarily good ones simply because they exist. If they opened up private streams for public use, 100 years from now people would be baffled when they are told that at one time they couldn't fish wherever a stream wandered. Unfortunately, this country is slowly moving in the opposite direction, and eventually things will be so locked up by private ownership that there will be a surcharge for a plane ticket to pay someone for flying through the airspace they own.

Now THERE'S an idea! I'm gonna sit down and type up a bill for each airline right now... Anybody got the address for the AA or TWA billing departments?

[troutbum479]

just my opinion but i don't think anyone fishing in the creek will get shot at or arrested. If the land owner has such problem with trespassing like indicated in the third post he would probably put some kind of sign or fence across the creek.

[ness]

I'm pretty sure the "trespassing is art" remark is somehow ness' way of poking me, but it's such a convoluted comment that I can't take offense because I don't know what the hell it means. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows?

I know....

(wasn't referring to you, or anybody for that matter.)

[eric1978]

I know....

(wasn't referring to you, or anybody for that matter.)

Then I'll continue to not take offense and remain confused...

[Terry Beeson]

Now THERE'S an idea! I'm gonna sit down and type up a bill for each airline right now... Anybody got the address for the AA or TWA billing departments?

I'm sending ALL of you a bill for allowing your water and fish to come through the creek on my property...

While I agree the landowner should be considerate enough to put up signs advising against trespassing, I'm wondering why he should HAVE to do that in order to earn the respect of anglers. Is it not pretty obvious you are leaving the city park and entering private property? I don't have to put up a sign in my yard telling you it's trespassing if you walk up to my door.

I suppose I was just raised to respect others and what they have.