The Michigan House has approved a bill Rep. Bradley Slagh reintroduced this year to better protect private property owners against unauthorized trespassing on their land. He first introduced the plan last term, but it was stalled in the Senate, despite receiving bipartisan support in the House.

The representative said the legislation was inspired by concerns raised by local residents who had trouble receiving assistance from law enforcement following instances of trespassing.

“Despite posting a significant number of no trespassing signs along the boundaries of their property, property owners in my area have struggled to get law enforcement to prosecute,” said Slagh, (R-Zeeland). “Officers often claim there is insufficient signage based on the wording in the current law and are unable to justify bringing charges against the offenders.” 

Current Michigan law requires that a property owner post signs so they are “spaced to enable a person to observe not less than 1 sign at any point of entry upon the property.” The Department of Natural Resources interprets a point of entry as any opening in a tree line.

“It’s simply not practical,” Slagh said. “That could mean a sign is required to be placed on every tree along the property line, even if the openings are very close together. We need to make some commonsense changes to this law.”

Slagh’s legislation would clarify that signs must be posted at intervals of not more than 250 feet along the boundary, providing a clear, attainable and reasonable standard for both property owners and law enforcement so the recreational trespassing law can be enforced as intended.

House Bill 4013 was approved with near-unanimous, bipartisan support and again moves to be considered by the state Senate.

###