Holland Reporter

The Michigan House has approved a bill reintroduced by Representative Bradley Slagh to enhance protection for private property owners against unauthorized trespassing. This legislation was originally introduced last term and gained bipartisan support in the House but stalled in the Senate.

Representative Slagh explained that local residents' concerns inspired the legislation, as they faced difficulties receiving assistance from law enforcement in cases 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,” Slagh stated. “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.”

Under current Michigan law, property owners must post signs that 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 defines a point of entry as any opening in a tree line.

“It’s simply not practical,” Slagh commented. “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 proposed legislation aims to clarify that signs must be posted at intervals of no more than 250 feet along the boundary, establishing a clear and reasonable standard for property owners and law enforcement to follow so the recreational trespassing law can be enforced as intended.

House Bill 4013 was passed with near-unanimous, bipartisan support and will now be considered by the state Senate.