Getting permission from a LLC

[Mister Tasty]

There are tracts in my area that are used for lumber that are owned by a LLC. More times than not the LLC is not local. Someone that told me of one such area said for me to go on and detect that no one will bother me. Some such tracts are leased to hunting clubs so I would rather be more careful than just waltzing on property. Information is sometimes scant and only an address is available. Has anyone had any success reaching out to an LLC for permission?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

There are tracts in my area that are used for lumber that are owned by a LLC. More times than not the LLC is not local. Someone that told me of one such area said for me to go on and detect that no one will bother me. Some such tracts are leased to hunting clubs so I would rather be more careful than just waltzing on property. Information is sometimes scant and only an address is available. Has anyone had any success reaching out to an LLC for permission?

The picture you are painting, of an LLC (corporation) who is likely "not local", sounds to me like you are alluding to a big nameless faceless business. Eh ?

If so, then : Good luck. Odds are, no one there is going to say "have a blast, go ahead". That's not to say they actually care less. It's just that corporate types are likely to not-want to be bothered. And if you call, you'll likely be treated as a sales solicitor. If you send a letter, it's likely to be treated as junk mail.

By all means, give it a try. But just saying, get ready for the sound of crickets.

Curious why your friend thinks "no one will care or bother you " ? What makes him think that ?

 

[Mister Tasty]

The friend is of the mindset that because the location is not around a populated area no one will say anything. I am aware of another plot of land closer to me that is owned by a LLC, that has "no trespassing" signs posted. I don't know if the LLC in question is part of a conglomerate or just an individual that established the corporation.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

The friend is of the mindset that because the location is not around a populated area no one will say anything....

Ok. The reason I asked is that : Sometimes a person will ask, like you did here, about some sort of middle -of-nowhere type location. And say something like : "I was walking my dog here, and spotted this cellar hole ...". And they'll take pictures of it, and muse "who do I ask for permission for" or "how do I go about obtaining permission", etc....

And it always strikes me as sort of ironic that it's apparently just the neighborhood cut through spot, or the location that's always served as the fishing hole, etc.... And apparently nothing seemed amiss to merely walk there, fish there, take pix there, etc..... So it always strikes me as odd that if they can do all that, if they're worried about how to gain access, then ... doh .... how is it that they're standing right there, walking their dog right there, fishing right there, taking pix, etc.... ?

Perhaps that doesn't paint a picture of the type location you're referring to.

 

[Mister Tasty]

The outlined area is the land in question. The closest city is on screen to the left and is probably 15 miles away. The individual that told me about the history of the property grew up in the area in the 1960s.

 

[fullbattery]

We've had mixed luck here. I'm not saying don't hunt the property, but warning that you need to be sure it's not posted. Honor any signs or markings that indicate no trespassing. Some states allow land owners to paint tree trunks in certain colors or patterns to serve the same as no trespassing signs.

I sometimes relic hunt in the Low Country of South Carolina. The owner of the properties I hunt (with permission) recently has had a number of instances of other relic hunters trespassing. He's alerted the SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR). They will prosecute to the full extent of the law. If I remember correctly, SC has an add-on charge if you are caught with anything of historic significance while trespassing to metal detect. Consequences are not trivial.

Edit to correct what DNR stands for. It's Department of Natural Resources, not Division of Natural Resources.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.....They will prosecute to the full extent of the law. ...

By all means, obey all-laws . But here's a challenge for you : Find any "law" , and question those that enforce those laws. ANY law. And ask those "they" that you refer to: "Can you or will you prosecute to the fullest extent of the law?". And they will dutifully answer "yes".

Doesn't matter WHAT infraction is-in-question. Eg.: speeding, jaywalking, spitting on sidewalks, etc.... NO ONE in authority is EVER going to say "Ah shucks, we'll just give a warning and shoo you away" By all means don't speed, jaywalk, or spit on sidewalks. But when it comes to trying to find examples of these "jail cells with Bubba", the room grows silent

 

[Rock Jock]

It may help to examine the online info about the company/corporation, which may list their properties and local operational offices/personnel. If so, I'd be tempted to ask permission of the local management, with a personal visit to the office to ask and present yourself as sane, non-destructive hobbyist with an interest in local history. It is at least worth a try if one is chomping at the bit. I suspect that having them understand that you don't intend to complicate their lives/work/publicity may have a salutary effect. They may also say not just "No!", but "Hell no!", owing to liability/environmental concerns, for instance, but at least you are showing respect and consideration, and that counts for something!

 

[Dodge92]

Asking permission so you don't get arrested is one thing. Going onto a "hunting tract" without notifying anyone could spell disaster.

 

[jordanmills]

Asking permission so you don't get arrested is one thing. Going onto a "hunting tract" without notifying anyone could spell disaster.

Yeah this is a pretty big concern in my mind. It's one thing if it appears to be generally open to public access or not closed to outdoor activities, hikers, etc. (as opposed to posted as no trespassing). It's another thing is someone is likely to be shooting out there.

The former is easily resolved by "There weren't any signs or fences, I'll be happy to make my way straight out right now." The latter... well you're not close enough to an ER for that to be resolved in your favor.

 

[Gaspipe]

You might as well request an audience with the pope; your chances are about the same. Don’t waste your time . Plenty of other places to detect. Some of the other comments to your thread are just plain dumb.

 

[fullbattery]

By all means, obey all-laws . But here's a challenge for you : Find any "law" , and question those that enforce those laws. ANY law. And ask those "they" that you refer to: "Can you or will you prosecute to the fullest extent of the law?". And they will dutifully answer "yes".

Doesn't matter WHAT infraction is-in-question. Eg.: speeding, jaywalking, spitting on sidewalks, etc.... NO ONE in authority is EVER going to say "Ah shucks, we'll just give a warning and shoo you away" By all means don't speed, jaywalk, or spit on sidewalks. But when it comes to trying to find examples of these "jail cells with Bubba", the room grows silent

The situation I'm referring to is not a matter of someone randomly asking law enforcement "can you or will you." In this case it is the land owner contacting law enforcement and requesting they put a stop to this type of trespassing on posted property. There have been recent prosecutions in the area due to other land owners making the same type of request to the same agency. In talking with locals who are friends of one who was prosecuted, the consequences were severe. Sorry, I don't have the details (fine amounts, probation terms, etc.). There was no jail time, but from what the locals told me, this person regrets having trespassed and will never consider trespassing to metal detect again.

The point I was trying to make to the OP was that:

• if the property is posted, you may find yourself in deep doo if you proceed without permission (hence the example), and
• in some states property is considered "posted" by simple paint markings

 

[jordanmills]

The point I was trying to make to the OP was that:

• if the property is posted, you may find yourself in deep doo if you proceed without permission (hence the example), and
• in some states property is considered "posted" by simple paint markings

Oh it goes farther than that. In Texas, a fence or presence of a consumable crop is sufficient notice. A few strands of barbed wire detached from fence posts and laying on the ground is likely to be interpreted as "sufficient notice" (since, even though damaged, it was likely designed to contain livestock). Or purple spray paint patches on trees a thousand feet apart in an open field. I don't know about other states off hand, but they may have similar laws, especially in the west.

ref: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/PE/htm/PE.30.htm#30.05 and https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/AG/htm/AG.143.htm#143.028

That's not to say that you should not go onto land that is left open to general public access, even if it is privately owned. And if it is left open to that, I don't see why you'd need to ask permission to conduct any lawful activity that does not damage the property or deprive others of similar use of it. But (as is also implied by the post I'm replying to) I would suggest that people take care to understand how property might be marked or posted as not available for public access and respect those markings/postings.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

....That's not to say that you should not go onto land that is left open to general public access, even if it is privately owned. And if it is left open to that, I don't see why you'd need to ask permission to conduct any lawful activity that does not damage the property or deprive others of similar use of it. ....

I didn't say it !

 

[jordanmills]

I didn't say it !

I figured I'd save you a thread.

 

[kweis]

I've had virtually no luck with llc's unless I know the owners. Liability issues whats usually thrown at me as to why the no. Best way is to find a phone number or visit the owner in person if at all possible.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

... Liability issues whats usually thrown at me as to why the no.....

Which is nothing more than a polite way of saying "no". Because even if you announce you have $1 million policy on-your-head (like if you were a business owner that had-such-a-policy , holding others harmless), they would STILL say "no". Showing that they don't care one iota about liability. They would just prefer not to be bothered, is the actual reason .

 

[Mister Tasty]

I don't think an individual owns the particular LLC's. One of the LLCs Forestry Investment Associates and the other is TIAA Timberlands. The former is based in Atlanta and the latter in Seattle. TIAA has a representative law firm here in South Carolina that I've reached out to. I'm sure both of these are fool's errands, but Jim Carrey once said " so you're telling me there's a chance?" Crazier things have happened, right?

 

[jordanmills]

I don't think an individual owns the particular LLC's. One of the LLCs Forestry Investment Associates and the other is TIAA Timberlands. The former is based in Atlanta and the latter in Seattle. TIAA has a representative law firm here in South Carolina that I've reached out to. I'm sure both of these are fool's errands, but Jim Carrey once said " so you're telling me there's a chance?" Crazier things have happened, right?

If you're going to do that (either it's fenced/posted and going without permission would be trespassing, or you just like getting told no), then you might try to present it as historical research. You may or may want to cultivate a relationship with a local history or community group to bolster this claim.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I don't think an individual owns the particular LLC's. ...

Corporations (and LLC's, which is just a tamer/smaller form of a corporation) are not technically "owned". They have shareholders and stockholders, who "work" for the corporation or LLC. So when my own company became an LLC, I was no longer labeled "owner". I am now labeled "manager".

But let's be perfectly honest: This is all just a semantics game. Someone still owns it. And can do whatever-the-heck he wants with it.

... you might try to present it as historical research. You may or may want to cultivate a relationship with a local history or community group to bolster this claim.

Yup. And by "cultivate a relationship with a local historical group", do NOT construe that to merely mean that you're going to waltz into a museum one day, strike up conversation, volunteer your md'ing services, blah blah. It doesn't work like that.

Instead, you actually volunteer and become a docent. Sure it might mean that you commit to 6 hrs. per month of duty-time. Eg.: manning a desk, sorting files, attending quarterly meetings, etc..... Get to know the others on a first-name basis. Which tend to include authors, archies, political-ties, city-people, etc....

You'll get a name badge on a lanyard, you'll have names-to-drop, and then ... yes, you are now "doing research". This is a great ice-breaker.

Not sure how well it will play into the entire LLC discussion though. Because if you're merely talking to a desk-receptionist, or the corporate lawyer, they will still probably treat you as nothing but a nuisance. So you STILL have to find out who *actually* makes decisions there.