Tresspasing on Private School Grounds

[Parkerz28]

Hello every one. This is my first post here.

Recently I was stopped by a private school security officer.

My brother and I were working some problems out with my car. In order to get a better diagnosis, I needed someone to observe my car going around 40mph. So I dropped my brother off on a side walk next to the road. (Regular Public Street and side walk). This side walk was near the exit of a private school. After dropping him off I turned around and passed him at my desired speed of 40mph. The quickest and safest way to pick him up was to go through the front entrance of the school, drive through the lot and pick him up at the exit of the school.(a 30 second drive) So I entered the parking lot and as I was driving through a security guard in a golf cart stopped in front of me. He rudely confronted me and asked what I was doing. I was respectful and explained. He then asked me if my brother and I were students at the school. I replied no, then he told me I had to leave; which was apparent that I was doing since the road I was on led directly to the exit. I agreed to leave with no hesitation. He then followed me to the exit, watched as I picked my brother up, and then took a picture of my license plate as I was waiting for traffic to clear so I could enter the road.

This occured around Mondat at 8:00 in the evening.(still plenty of daylight in our area) There were 5-8 other cars that were driving in the parking lot.

For a little more information which most likely doesn't change anything; I live across the street from the school and many of my friends attend this school. Therefore I am on the property almost on a daily basis attending their extracurricular events as well as picking them up from the school and the events. Maybe this added a false sense of “welcomeness” on my part.

I'm not challenging this because I know school security is becoming more and more important, and I was arguably in the wrong. However I do want to know what is the legal difference in my situation compared to me being legally allowed to enter the school for a sporting event, or picking up a freind where I actually enter the building. Where is the line drawn? Also there are no private property signs, nor any trespassing signs. Therefore one might not even know that it is a school, or ultimately private property. I probably wouldn't have thought to come home and post about it. However the security officer was VERY rude and almost seemed to be attempting to degrade myself.

I hope this doesn't appear to be an arrogant teen that wants to bend rules I want to learn from this due to the fact I had no clue that I was breaking the law. Plus law related things kind of interest me.

Thanks for reading my book, and for any input.

[jk]

the state must be known to provide a specific answer but I can say what is most likely the answer:

I'm not challenging this because I know school security is becoming more and more important, and I was arguably in the wrong. However I do want to know what is the legal difference in my situation compared to me being legally allowed to enter the school for a sporting event, or picking up a freind where I actually enter the building. Where is the line drawn?

when you enter school grounds to attend some sanctioned activity, you are there by permission. If you have no business on the property, you are not there by permission and as such, most likely (again, the state's laws are important) trespassing.

Just like if somebody entered your property. If you invited them or they were attending a party at your house, they are there with permission. If they just start hanging out on your property for no reason you allowed, they are trespassing. Why cannot you see something that simple?

[adjusterjack]

However the security officer was VERY rude and almost seemed to be attempting to degrade myself.

Oh, give it a rest.

He was doing his job and you were where you weren't supposed to be.

If you ask him for his rendition of the event he'll probably refer to you as some snotty teenager messing around in the parking lot.

Perception goes both ways.

If you want to learn from this experience, learn this.

1 - Security people don't have to be polite when they are confronting people who are where they aren't supposed to be.

2 - Stay off school grounds unless you belong there.



Now I suppose you'll accuse me of being rude.