© 2024 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Apple's latest iOS (17.4) is preventing our livestreams from playing. We suggest you download the free Boise State Public Radio app & stream us there while we work to troubleshoot the issue.

Idaho's New Trespass Law Set To Go Into Effect July 1

daniel
/
Flickr

Idaho’s new trespass law goes into effect July 1. That means some changes when it comes to access to private property.

Earlier this year, the Idaho Legislature updated the state's trespass law that changed how land owners label private property and increased penalties.

Ryan Stoa is an associate professor of law at Concordia University. He says there are inconsistencies in the measure. In one section of the bill, written permission is required to enter private land. But in another section, the bill says permission might be implicitly provided.

“So it’s not really clear. Can permission be given verbally, is that sufficient or is written permission required in every case? It’s also not clear who must give that invitation. Must it be the landowner with title to the property or can someone in legal possession, such as a lessee, give permission to the public?” asks Stoa.

The new law has a provision that says if you trespass three times and cause $1,000 worth of damage, the penalty goes up to a felony. Violators could face up to five years in jail and a $50,000 fine.

Speaking on Idaho Matters, Stoa says he believes the legislature may revisit the law next year and clean up inconsistencies.

Idaho Governor Butch Otter let the measure become law without his signature because he said he had concerns the proposal could have unintended consequences.

Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio

Copyright 2018 Boise State Public Radio

As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life!). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio.

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.