Makes sense. But, rural areas are butt deep in stock tanks. Stock, meaning livestock that need water. I can’t imagine a scenario where a rural farmer/rancher would need to unlock a gate to let livestock water.
However, juries are seldom peopled by our peers and both sides lawyers get to strike potential jurors.
One interesting thing. All of our drinking water comes from lakes that are filled by rivers that have their sources as streams from private land. I have such a creek, spring fed, on my land. It flows into the local lake. I am prohibited from damming it up due to owning the source. So, if a trespasser drowns in my creek, am I liable? Do I share the liability with the governing body owning the lake for drownings? Is any governing body responsible for lake drownings? I would have to go to case law for this one.
As Sonny Corleone said in The Godfather, “Schtoopid, just Schtoopid. “
DD, if your area is anything like our laws around here, and I think this is a national thing, if the stream across your place is of any size, it is owned by the public as far as access, they, the general public, can traipse thru your creek, inside high water line area, freely without any trespassing risk, nothing you can do to stop them. until of course they step out of the high water mark, then they are trespassing on your land.
