kidcoltoutlaw
Member
I have searched the net and can find nothing on it . I'm on a farm,
Thanks Keith
Thanks Keith
Is it against the law to shoot over power lines
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40-82
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If you mean shooting or hunting while under a power line there is no law that I know of that addresses the area under the power line as being any different from any other nearby property. Eminent Domain laws only force the landowner to give up the right to the power companies to build and maintain the line. In individual cases power companies often push what is known in the trade as sucker contacts to landowners, and in those cases it is anybody's guess what kind of rights they may have given up.
In the instances I am familiar with hunting rights, and the right to do things like target shooting are retained by the landowner.
I've spent a good bit of my life battling Eminent Domain abuses. My advice to you is that if your question is more than idle speculation, and you're having difficulties with a condemning authority, you need to seek out and find a property rights attorney. This is a deeply specialized area of law and the average attorney knows almost nothing about it.
In the instances I am familiar with hunting rights, and the right to do things like target shooting are retained by the landowner.
I've spent a good bit of my life battling Eminent Domain abuses. My advice to you is that if your question is more than idle speculation, and you're having difficulties with a condemning authority, you need to seek out and find a property rights attorney. This is a deeply specialized area of law and the average attorney knows almost nothing about it.
kidcoltoutlaw
Member
no it was
Police said I could not shoot over power lines. I can't find any law that says that,
Thanks, Keith
Police said I could not shoot over power lines. I can't find any law that says that,
Thanks, Keith
deadin
Member
I'm intrigued. Can you describe just what you mean by shooting "over" power lines?
Like you are one hillside and are shooting across a valley to another hillside and the power lines are in the valley?.... or what?? Maybe a really high tree stand?
Like you are one hillside and are shooting across a valley to another hillside and the power lines are in the valley?.... or what?? Maybe a really high tree stand?
kidcoltoutlaw
Member
Shoot up hill
Way above but across or over power lines.Many feet above them ,
Thanks,keith
Way above but across or over power lines.Many feet above them ,
Thanks,keith
oneounceload
member
HUH?? Whatchoo talking about willis? Power companies buy Right of Way, essentially they have total control over their transmission lines and that property. As someone who worked for a utility, this was SOP - their ROW and they could allow or deny hunting, trespassing, or any other use in that area
AlexanderA
Member
Just think what would happen if a stray shot hit one of those wires. You'd have a huge civil liability, if nothing else.
ConstitutionCowboy
member
I'd worry about some high voltage coming back at you following the ion trail your bullet creates as it passes through the air. I've never heard of it happening, but I wouldn't want to be the one to experiment to find out...
Woody
May need to politely ask the police that told you to stop what law they are enforcing so that you do not violate it again.
It seems like a very rare case to be shooting over wires I'd be surprised if it was addressed specifically. There may be something about shooting near wires but as stated above, shooting is common in the cleared area under power lines.
It seems like a very rare case to be shooting over wires I'd be surprised if it was addressed specifically. There may be something about shooting near wires but as stated above, shooting is common in the cleared area under power lines.
IF you hit a power line, the following could apply:
18.2-153. Obstructing or injuring canal, railroad, power line, etc.
If any person maliciously obstruct, remove or injure any part of a canal, railroad or urban, suburban or interurban electric railway, or any lines of any electric power company, or any bridge or fixture thereof, or maliciously obstruct, tamper with, injure or remove any machinery, engine, car, trolley, supply or return wires or any other work thereof, or maliciously open, close, displace, tamper with or injure any switch, switch point, switch lever, signal lever or signal of any such company, whereby the life of any person on such canal, railroad, urban, suburban or interurban electric railway, is put in peril, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony; and, in the event of the death of any such person resulting from such malicious act, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of murder, the degree to be determined by the jury or the court trying the case without a jury.
If any such act be committed unlawfully, but not maliciously, the person so offending shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony; and in the event of the death of any such person resulting from such unlawful act, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
"...death of any person... " would not mean only someone shot but someone who died if power was cut off to a medical device or heating/cooling system.
Jim
18.2-153. Obstructing or injuring canal, railroad, power line, etc.
If any person maliciously obstruct, remove or injure any part of a canal, railroad or urban, suburban or interurban electric railway, or any lines of any electric power company, or any bridge or fixture thereof, or maliciously obstruct, tamper with, injure or remove any machinery, engine, car, trolley, supply or return wires or any other work thereof, or maliciously open, close, displace, tamper with or injure any switch, switch point, switch lever, signal lever or signal of any such company, whereby the life of any person on such canal, railroad, urban, suburban or interurban electric railway, is put in peril, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony; and, in the event of the death of any such person resulting from such malicious act, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of murder, the degree to be determined by the jury or the court trying the case without a jury.
If any such act be committed unlawfully, but not maliciously, the person so offending shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony; and in the event of the death of any such person resulting from such unlawful act, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
"...death of any person... " would not mean only someone shot but someone who died if power was cut off to a medical device or heating/cooling system.
Jim
I think I recall something about not being able to shoot at birds "on" the power line but have never heard of it being a law you can't shoot over them.
I would agree that perhaps an inquiry to law enforcement regarding the specifics of that law ,if it exists .
I would agree that perhaps an inquiry to law enforcement regarding the specifics of that law ,if it exists .
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
If there is such a law, it's likely to be specific to VA.
Over or under, what's the real difference? Deer hunters have been working power line rights of way for generations.
Over or under, what's the real difference? Deer hunters have been working power line rights of way for generations.
"I'd worry about some high voltage coming back at you following the ion trail your bullet creates as it passes through the air. I've never heard of it happening, but I wouldn't want to be the one to experiment to find out...
Woody"
Fantasy.
There is no "ion trail" created by the passage of a bullet through the air.
Woody"
Fantasy.
There is no "ion trail" created by the passage of a bullet through the air.
splattergun
Member
I have heard that it is illegal to shoot AT power or telephone lines, and I can understand why. But to shoot OVER them? Never heard of it. I guess it's possible. There are some strange laws on the books.
But I'm still trying to figure out WHY anyone would want to shoot over a power line. Couldn't that put your bullet on a dangerous trajectory?
But I'm still trying to figure out WHY anyone would want to shoot over a power line. Couldn't that put your bullet on a dangerous trajectory?
40-82
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oneounceload,
I have no doubt that what you describe is an accurate rendition of what power companies do, but it is completely contrary to American law. For a power company to control hunting or trespass rights under a rural power line or gas line is completely unnecessary and they usually can't win those rights in court if they are contested, but the rights landowners too often sign away for no compensation that the power company has no right to even ask for is often incredible.
On my property unless an employee of a power company, most often a sub-contractor, goes on their right of way for any purpose other than to build or maintain the line they are trespassing on my property. They certainly have no business owning anybody's hunting rights.
On the other hand, getting back to the OP's original question no one has the right to damage the power company's equipment or facilities, and if the law officer in question thought that he was keeping someone from shooting through the power lines, it seems to me that his actions might be reasonable, although I'd have to know more about the situation before I was sure. I don't think the power of law enforcement officers to roam through private land without permission of the owner is unlimited. Appalachian Power in Virginia promotes their rural power lines as having the side benefit of creating more edge habitat, which they say improves wild turkey populations and creates better hunting opportunities directly under their lines.
I have no doubt that what you describe is an accurate rendition of what power companies do, but it is completely contrary to American law. For a power company to control hunting or trespass rights under a rural power line or gas line is completely unnecessary and they usually can't win those rights in court if they are contested, but the rights landowners too often sign away for no compensation that the power company has no right to even ask for is often incredible.
On my property unless an employee of a power company, most often a sub-contractor, goes on their right of way for any purpose other than to build or maintain the line they are trespassing on my property. They certainly have no business owning anybody's hunting rights.
On the other hand, getting back to the OP's original question no one has the right to damage the power company's equipment or facilities, and if the law officer in question thought that he was keeping someone from shooting through the power lines, it seems to me that his actions might be reasonable, although I'd have to know more about the situation before I was sure. I don't think the power of law enforcement officers to roam through private land without permission of the owner is unlimited. Appalachian Power in Virginia promotes their rural power lines as having the side benefit of creating more edge habitat, which they say improves wild turkey populations and creates better hunting opportunities directly under their lines.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
See Post #6. Sounds like a hillside-to-hillside shot with the power line down below.
zxcvbob
Member
Are we talking rifle or shotgun? Birdshot or buckshot or slugs? There is the practical matter of shooting up in the air...
Sav .250
Member
Shooting "over" power lines. What`s the point ?
MtnCreek
Member
It sounds like the point is to shoot something on the other side of the power line.
40-82
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There is no law in Virginia that addresses shooting over, under, or around a power line as long as the line is not damaged, and it is a common practice to hunt under those lines. I would caution you, however, that in an individual case unless you have seen the contract between the power company and the landowner you can't know what sort of rights the power company has acquired.
mgkdrgn
Member
My response would have to be "show me where it says that"
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