Source: http://maineroadways.blogspot.com/p/timber-trespass.html
Timestamp: 2017-09-19 18:40:26
Document Index: 228698090

Matched Legal Cases: ['§7551', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§7552', '§2', '§1', '§2', '§3', '§1', '§2', '§7', '§13', '§2', '§2', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§7552', '§3', '§2', '§3', '§2510', '§1', '§2511', '§2', '§6', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§2512', '§1']

Maine ROADWays: Timber trespass
Since a lot of problems occur where there are wood lots that are either accessed by or crossed by discontinued roads, I thought it might be useful to include statutes that relate to timber trespass. Maine ROADWays strives to work with people on both sides of this issue - that is, we support responsible loggers whose access to their wood lot is subject to damage by others, and we also support residents whose home access is threatened when the road is also used for logging. We find that when the two groups work together amicably, there is a much better chance of a mutually agreeable end result. Since "good fences make good neighbors," knowing the boundaries and ground rules will go a long way towards keeping conflicts to a minimum. And as with many of the statutes ROADWays deals with, they aren't all found in one place, but are scattered between Title 14, Court Procedure, and Title 17, Crimes. So to make them easier to find, here they are in one place.
Title 14 §7551-B. Trespass damages
1. Prohibition. A person who intentionally enters the land of another without permission and causes damage to property is liable to the owner in a civil action if the person:
A. Damages or throws down any fence, bar or gate; leaves a gate open; breaks glass; damages any road, drainage ditch, culvert, bridge, sign or paint marking; or does other damage to any structure on property not that person's own; or [1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
B. Throws, drops, deposits, discards, dumps or otherwise disposes of litter, as defined in Title 17, section 2263, subsection 2, in any manner or amount, on property not that person's own. [1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
[ 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW) .]
2. Liability. If the damage to the property is caused intentionally, the person is liable to the owner for 2 times the owner's actual damages plus any additional costs recoverable under subsection 3, paragraphs B and C. If the damage to the property is not caused intentionally, the person is liable to the owner for the owner's actual damages plus any additional costs recoverable under subsection 3, paragraphs B and C.
3. Damages recoverable. The owner's damages include:
A. Actual damages, as measured by subsection 4; [1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
B. Costs the owner may incur if the damage results in a violation of any federal, state or local law or ordinance and, as a result, the owner becomes the subject of an enforcement proceeding. These costs include attorney's fees, costs and the value of the owner's time spent on involvement in the enforcement proceeding; and [1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
C. Reasonable attorney's fees for preparing the claim and bringing the court action under this section plus costs. [1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
4. Measure of damages. For damage to property under subsection 1, paragraph A, the owner's damages may be measured either by the replacement value of the damaged property or by the cost of repairing the damaged property. For damages for disposing of litter, the owner's damages include the direct costs associated with properly disposing of the litter, including obtaining permits, and the costs associated with any site remediation work undertaken as a result of the litter.
5. Other actions barred. A recovery from a defendant under this section bars an action to recover damages under section 7552 from that defendant for the same specific damage.
1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).
Title 14 §7552. Injury to land, forest products or agricultural products
A. "Agricultural product" means crops produced and livestock raised as a result of cultivating the soil and harvesting. Agricultural products include, but are not limited to, vegetables, fruit, forages, grain, nuts, berries, flowers, ornamental plants, nursery crops, milk, dairy products, eggs, domestic livestock and other products in varying degrees of preparation. Agricultural products also include the soil amendments and by-products that are used in cultivation.[1995, c. 450, §2 (NEW).]
Public utilities, as defined in Title 35-A, section 102, and contractors performing work for public utilities are not liable for damages under this paragraph for lost trees the trimming or removal of which is necessary to provide safe and reliable service to the customers of the public utilities. [2015, c. 241,§1 (RPR).]
Public utilities, as defined in Title 35-A, section 102, and contractors performing work for public utilities are not liable for damages under this paragraph for lost trees the trimming or removal of which is necessary to provide safe and reliable service to the customers of the public utilities. [2015, c. 241,§2 (NEW).]
C. In addition to the damages recoverable under paragraphs A and B, a person who violates subsection 2 is also liable to the owner for the costs the owner may incur if the violation results in a violation of any federal, state or local law or ordinance and, as a result, the owner becomes the subject of an enforcement proceeding. These costs include attorney's fees, costs and the value of the owner's time spent on involvement in the enforcement proceeding.[1995, c. 585, §3 (NEW).]
1977, c. 313, §1 (AMD). 1983, c. 362, §2 (AMD). 1983, c. 507, §7 (AMD). 1983, c. 816, §A5 (RPR). 1989, c. 555, §13 (AMD).1995, c. 450, §2 (RPR). 1995, c. 585, §§2-4 (AMD). 1997, c. 214, §1 (AMD). 1999, c. 339, §1 (AMD). 2015, c. 241, §§1-4 (AMD).
Title 14 §7552-A. Land on which 10 acres or more of wood is to be cut
Any person who authorizes the cutting of timber or wood on the person's own property, when the cutting involves an area of 10 or more acres, shall clearly mark any property lines that are within 200 feet of the area to be cut. If any such person fails to clearly mark such property lines and if the person or persons who are authorized to cut then cut timber or wood on abutting land without the authorization of the owner of that land, the person who failed to mark the person's property lines is liable in a civil action, in double damages, to that owner of the abutting land. These damages are in addition to any damages to which the owner of the abutting land may be entitled under section 7552. [1995, c. 450, §3 (AMD).]
1975, c. 253, (NEW). 1977, c. 313, §2 (RPR). 1995, c. 450, §3 (AMD).
Title 17 §2510. Unlawful cutting of trees
C. Municipal employees, persons contracting with a municipality or other legitimate agents of a municipality acting within the course and scope of their employment or performing volunteer work for the municipality removing street trees or blown down trees or in emergencies. [1997, c. 152, §1(AMD).]
Title 17 §2511. Harvesting timber near property line
A. "Established property line" means a line demarcated by monuments, signs, markings, pins, reference points or other markers that denotes a change in ownership between abutting properties. These established property line markers must have been placed upon mutual agreement of the abutting landowners, based on historical physical evidence of a preexisting boundary line, or by a licensed professional surveyor pursuant to Title 32, chapter 141.[2013, c. 180, §2 (AMD); 2013, c. 180, §6 (AFF).]
B. "Harvester" means a person, firm, company, corporation or other legal entity that harvests or contracts to harvest a forest product. [2003, c. 550,§1 (NEW).]
E. "Timber harvesting" means the cutting or removal of timber for the primary purpose of selling or processing forest products. [2003, c. 550, §1(NEW).]
B. A landowner, landowner representative or harvester who authorizes the timber harvesting or in fact harvests a line tree without first obtaining permission from the abutting landowner commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000 may be adjudged. [2003,c. 550, §1 (NEW).]
C. Municipal employees, persons contracting with a municipality or other legitimate agents of a municipality acting within the course and scope of their employment or performing volunteer work for the municipality by removing trees obstructing a public way or fallen trees or in emergencies; and[2003, c. 550, §1 (NEW).]
Title 17 §2512. Failure to pay for trees harvested
A. A person who violates subsection 2 commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $1,000 may be adjudged. [2005, c. 546, §1(NEW).]
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR TIMBER HARVESTING
If you really want to delve into this subject in detail, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry has a publication that details the Rules and Regulations for Timber Harvesting. Of special interest is the section on standards for timber harvesting and related activities in shoreland zones. You can find it through the link above, or go there directly by clicking HERE.