Legal issues of playing pb on public land or a national reserve. What can a cop do??

[OrangeDude]

Hi,

Me and some friends usually have to drive about 50+ miles to the closest fields in santa cruz or vallejo. Just last week my friend noticed that there was a small strip of woods right next to the freeway a few blocks from our houses. He took me there and it was nice!!! There is one house on a far side of it, far from where we are gonna play though. And the free way is right next to it but is shielded by trees. Whats the consequences of getting caught playing there. I'm pretty sure we arent' supposed to be there sinced its fenced up, but we wanna play! Does anybody know if police can confiscate your markers and equipment. And if they do is there a way to get them back? I'm not worried if a cop shows up and gives us a ticket and warning i'm just afriad the cop might take our prescious gear. Also there is a sign somewhere in there marking a pge gas pipeline.

[yeahthatsme]

dont play there. you can easily get your stuff taken away and get a fine and or jail time. you need to find a privatly owned place and get permission to play there. thats the only way you can be close to risk free.

also if you get caught you will raise anti-paintball feelings in your town and thats no good.

[Ov3rmind]

Here's an idea, don't play there. It's public land, and they sure don't want you playing paintball on it. Plus, if someone sees you playing, there's a good chance they'll freak out and call the cops (some outlaw players have had cops draw real guns on them). Just play at your feild, where paintball is meant to be played. Also, if it's fenced up (and you're obviously not supposed to be there), you can add tresspassing to charges that may be brought against you.

[Mango]

Since I will be going into the police academy soon, this topic is of great interest to me. I hope I can help you out. Under the tresspassing laws for California, San Francisco county, the following is stated:

Simple trespass is committed when someone:

Knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, enters or remains in any place to:

Threaten or terrorize the owner or occupant of the premises;

Start or cause to be started any fire upon the premises; or

Deface or damage the premises.

The last line is important because that is most likely what you would be charged with, some sort of criminal tresspass, destruction of property summons, etc. It really depends on how "hard" the owner of the property wants to be, and how the officer/s want to handle the situation. They could confiscate your gear from you if they wanted, but I'm sure they arent supposed to by law. But, again, what is allowed by law and what discretionary measures they take are two different things. There is no guarentee. For all I know in CA they probably can take your stuff.

So, the maximum fine under Simple Tresspass:

Simple trespass is a summary offense, punishable by:

Imprisonment for up to 90 days;

A fine of $300; or

Both.


Is that worth playing bandit ball to you? I would drive the 50 miles and play LEGALLY. Because, not to be a flamer, it's when people/kids do these things that give people a bad taste of paintball. So please, play at a legal field, it's what they are there for.

[Brak]

i play on public land all the time (they call us hickballers). we have had the cops called on us 3 times, but thats because it was on private property (golf course lol) and the neighbors were complaining.

but anyway, just get on the people's nice side, or dont play ANYWHERE near them. sure, theres a chance you will get caught, but thats a very slim chance as long as nobody calls it in (so get on the people who live near it's good side).

you guys are also blowing it way outta proportion, we have actually encountered the police, and all they do is take names down, etc. no confistation of equipment unless vandalism, disturbance, etc. is involved.

[Mango]

Brak:
I blew nothing out of proportion, I said it's up to the DISCRETION of the officer and the owner of the property. Sure, there are lots of ways they can handle it, and you have had some luck in that department.

[Kevmaster]

yep, play at a legal field or on private land with permission. i dont know what the local statutes are in your area, but i do know that federal land can not be played on. not to mention the tresspassing and other associated charges. dont risk it, really, its not worth it

[LittMag]

I feel your pain man, I live in San Mateo (when I'm not in school) and my drive is the same as yours. I wouldn't do it simply because you're in the city. You can't get into an open space like Brak can and all it'll take is for someone passing on the freeway to spot you, or the person in the house to spot some people with "guns" running around to get some not so happy cops on you.

[Tron]

I played with a few guys last week, who up until now never played on a field. For the last 2-3 years all they played was outlaw. They played in Pasadena and Highland park and have never been bothered. And if you get some jerk cop he might just take your gear to piss you off. But most of them are cool and will just tell you to get off the property if you're cool about everything.

There is also land in Whittier, CA that tons of people play on. It's official use is a City park but it is so big no one cares.

-Tron

[raehl]

NEVER

ever, ever, play paintball on land you do not have permission from the owner to be playing on.

You could get charged with tresspassing, shoot someone who doesn't expect to be there and be guilty of assault, get shot by a cop who doesn't know what you're doing, or get your pissed of neighbors to run to the local city council for a law that bans the possession of paintball markers altogether.


Usually if you ask nicely, it's not too hard to get permission to use some land that isn't used for anything else.


Oh, and paintball on federal lands isn't prohibitted, it's just (like everything else) prohibitted without permission.


- Chris

[OrangeDude]

hey guys,
WOW i didn't expect so many responses so fast. Yeah everything you guys said makes sense. I just wanted to hear opinions and comments about the situation. Becuase you know if you were in the same situation you would be tempted too. Actually i moved 20 miles from sf to millbrae and the place is off 280 in burlingame in san mateo county. Hey littlemag its off trousdale burlingame exit. Its a small town close to the mountains. I don't know its just soo tempting. . . its not a big city and not too many ppl pass by there. I dont' know i'm still pondering . . . .

[oldsoldier]

They could, worst case scenario, depending on toen ordinances, get you with criminal trespass, posession of a weapon, any number of things. Plus, if its federal land, they can get you for even more. IF you decide to play, and an officer shows up, be very polite, and, for the love of god, dont move fast! Nothing scvares an officer more than seeing someone with what looks like a firearm (I know, to YOU it doesnt, but a cop coming to a call of possible kids with guns, HE will think it does).

[shartley]

Yes, everyone is dead on (and thanks Mango )... YES your gear CAN be taken (it can also NOT be.. as Mango stated, many things are up to the officer). But the following is NOT accurate and a bit upsetting when I hear folks say things like it:

Originally posted by Tron
And if you get some jerk cop he might just take your gear to piss you off.

So.. YOU are the one doing something wrong, and it is the COP that is being a jerk for doing his/her job? And you think they would take your stuff just to piss you off? Come on now. They have FAR more important things to do...... trust me.

"Hey John!"
"Yeah?"
"I can't belive it. I got the chance of a lifetime tonight."
"How so Frank?"
"You know that track of land by the power plant?"
"Yeah."
"Well, there were a bunch of kids playing Paintball there. And I took all their equipment! LOL It really pissed them off."
"Well, great job Frank! You know our goal is to piss people off."
"No kidding! Mark one down for the Cops! WooHoo!"
"So, who can we go piss off next?"
"I don't know, how about finding someone who is speeding and writing them a ticket?"
"Sounds like a plan.... after all, we really don't care about the fines, it is the Pissed Off factor we are looking for."
"Good enough.... so when one of us pulls over someone, make sure we call the other so we can BOTH be there. It will double the Pissed Off factor!"
"Sure enough... and don't forget to just sit around talking in our cars for 15 minutes before finally issuing the ticket. LOL"
"Dude! You read my mind!
"Well, let's get to it.. time stands still for noone.."

Yeah... that's how it works.

[Mango]

$
$$
$$$
$$$$
$$$$$
$$$$$$
$$$
$$$
$$$

hahahaha!

[LittMag]

Yeah Orange I know exactly where you're talking about, the land next to 280? I used to live just a block off of Trousdale before we moved the town over. Either way, you're bound to have someone see you if you play remotely close to Skyline and 280. Just goto Sherwood to play, I know the hour drive sucks, but the place is very cool and BYOP. BTW do you frequent any paintball shops in the Bay area? the closest one I know is Paintball Paradise and they charge an arm and a leg for everything.

-Litt