Trespassing in a Forest

[Mike101]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Arlington Georgia

I am heading out on my own and don't know where to go--Can I legally go into a random unreserved forest and live--While leaving no trace that I was foresting.

Or is that reserved for parks and reserves?

[aardvarc]

There's no such thing as "random unreserved forest". Either the land is private property owned by someone, or, it is land that is owned and managed by the government (for example, the state or the county). Unless it is land that YOU own, it belongs to someone else. On private property, you'd need permission of the property owner to be there, or could face a criminal charge. On government owned property, you'd be subject to whatever rules the government agency has in place for that land (for example, in a wildlife management area, you'd need permits to camp) - they're not going to allow you to "live" on government property.

[Mike101]

Aardvarc, thanks for your time and reply. So why is it acceptable for other homeless--or people who have fallen on hard times to linger in communes near food banks/Etc?

[jk]

You would have to be more specific in describing the communes you ask about.

[aardvarc]

Because such areas are either private property where the property owner allows them to congregate, or, they are in public rights of way (ie sidewalks) where they can congregate right up until the create a nuisance at which point law enforcement will get involved. That's different than attempting to live on property that isn't yours, and most communities DO have ordinances that prohibit living in public spaces, they just usually have other bigger issues to deal with than chasing the homeless out every couple of hours. In forested lands however, that's usually ALL the officers who enforce laws on that land do - they aren't out working car crashes or domestic violence cases - they're doing nothing BUT resource violation enforcement. And rules for state or other government managed lands (water management districts, wildlife management areas, etc.) have VERY specific rules about who can use that land and under what circumstances, with what permits, and on what dates. In fact, I've got officers from my agency heading to one of my state's managed areas as we speak to oust a squatter who has been returning after warning. This time might be the one where the officers decide that warnings aren't working and that arrest is appropriate. We'll see.

[Mike101]

^ Thank you for your time and reply aardvarc, so you are saying that your company has officers that scout forested land to see if anyone is there? My family actually owns a wilderness range in rural Georgia and Texas so I was curious as to what the benefits of going to that range vs going to a "Real Forest" might be.

[aardvarc]

No, I am saying that the state law enforcement agency I work under has law enforcement officers who routinely patrol state (and also federal) forested, managed, and other lands looking for trespassers and other violators. (AARDVARC.org, Inc. is only my "volunteer time". I'm actually employed by a law enforcement agency for my living.)

If your family owns property and will allow you on it, that's the way to go. Attampting to live on anyone else's property, especially property owned and managed by local, state, or federal government, will only end badly for you.

[indybail]

Mike, I don't believe there is internet access in "random unreserved forest".