When people put a lot of care into maintaining their yard, what often happens is that they start to feel protective of it. That’s natural to some extent, but it’s surprisingly easy to go overboard when dealing with those who leave more than footprints on their way past it.
I can recall having to talk down a couple of folks when someone’s dog pooped on their lawn. After all, I couldn’t see too many ways that their plan of throwing the droppings at the owners would end well.
That’s the kind of hard lesson that it looks like one Virginia man will need to learn on his own.
Residents in Henrico County, Virginia made an unusual discovery in their neighborhood
One of their neighbors had apparently installed a new fence, and once they saw the panel next to it, they figured out that it was electrified.
This choice of fencing shocked them
According to WRIC, the fence stood only inches away from where the kids were waiting, a bus stop for middle and high school students. This made it easy for one to fall on it and injure themselves.
The neighbors considered it reckless
Another concern was that the fence’s owner, Bryan Tucker, hadn’t put up any signs warning the children that they were near an electric fence.
For this reason and because of its proximity to the bus stop, his neighbors felt compelled to call the police on him.
Tucker put the fence up to keep kids from trespassing and leaving trash in his yard
As he told WRIC, “I’m not in charge of other people’s children. I’m not directing other people’s children what to do. All I can do is protect myself and that’s why I’ve got a fence up.”
The police weighed in
When police arrived, they contacted Henrico County’s Public Works department to determine whether the fence extended to a public easement.
Eventually, the county concluded that it did encroach on the easement, which meant it was illegal and Tucker would need to take it down.
However, he’s allowed to put it back up if it only stays within his property limits
As WRIC reported, Tucker fully intends to keep the fence up no matter what his neighbors think about it.
For their part, the neighbors were not shy about sharing those thoughts. One of them, Wayne Milby, said, “What you don’t like kids? Me, I’m a parent and I don’t want any children to get electrocuted.”
Tucker sees that trespassing signs aren’t very effective at keeping kids away from his property
He went on to say, “It says no trespassing for any purpose. Strictly forbidden. Violators will be prosecuted.”
The fence might stop being an issue once it stays only on the grounds he actually owns
That’s because his property line is far enough away from the bus stop that any kids would have to wander away from the stop and towards it to make contact with it.
This story has generated some reactions online
many are actually in favor of this man’s right to defend his property. In fact, some people have tried to get children off their own lawns in different ways!
It’s clear that people are split on this fence
Layfifi Fowler mentioned how her mother taught her not to interfere with people’s property.
Sounds like people take property protection pretty seriously
I want to hear from you all. Would you put one of these on your lawn or do you think it’s a bit much?
Some questioned whether putting up an electric fence was necessary
David Jackson asks whether it’s in fact legal and Robert Kroulik III thinks a fence can go up but without the electric current.
It seems that people are falling on both sides of this debate
What are your thoughts about this man’s electric lawn fence?
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