I’m asking here since this is my area and you guys would be the best people to ask. I recently uploaded a video where we went inside an abandonment that people are generally caught and charged a huge fine at. It’s all over the news around here when somebody gets caught in that building because they are generally scrappers. I’m just curious what the legal issues would be if somebody important happened to see us actively going inside said building, sorry if this question is dumb. I couldn’t find it in Common thread topics and I also assumed it’s a bit different for every region, thanks in advance!

The best way to avoid legal repercussions is to record yourself being in a building and upload it for the police to see. That way, they'll know "it was just a prank, bro" and you'll get a free pass.

Posted by climb_something The best way to avoid legal repercussions is to record yourself being in a building and upload it for the police to see. That way, they'll know "it was just a prank, bro" and you'll get a free pass.

Yeah dude, or you just need an Urbex license

Never post anything online you don't to see replayed at your trial.

Capisce?

Posted by Radio2600 Never post anything online you don't to see replayed at your trial. Capisce?

^Truth^
&
oh my... you left digital finger prints all over the internet?

Posted by Radio2600 Never post anything online you don't to see replayed at your trial.

I'd better start deleting clips!

With photos you can at least have the burden of proving YOU took them. Harder to prove without other evidence.

Filming yourself committing a crime is just stupid. Especially if it's a well known place and can easily be identified by the owner or authorities. If you film yourself breaking in or climbing a fence, too? Additional charges.

I hate urbex videos for a bunch of reasons, but I find it incredibly stupid to provide everything the police would need to arrest you in exchange for some views and likes.

Have some respect for yourself, and the hobby as a whole.

I'd be very careful how you do it, if you are.
- Don't show your face or anyway to identify yourself on camera
- don't show entrances/exits
- and be prepared to defend yourself doing these things in court.
I'm sure there's many more, and feel free to add to this list but those would be the major ones to keep in mind.

Posted by Tribi I’m asking here since this is my area and you guys would be the best people to ask.

We're probably not the BEST, a lawyer would be, but we do have experience with this.

I recently uploaded a video where we went inside an abandonment that people are generally caught and charged a huge fine at.

What is the content of the video? Are you in it? Are you recognizable? Is your voice in the video?

If you are telling us that people are fined, you are stating that you knew beforehand there was risk involved. By putting a video of yourself at this location you are basically admitting you knew of the risk beforehand and still opened yourself up to be fined.

It’s all over the news around here when somebody gets caught in that building because they are generally scrappers.

Yeah, those scrappers are a rascally bunch.

I’m just curious what the legal issues would be if somebody important happened to see us actively going inside said building, sorry if this question is dumb. I couldn’t find it in Common thread topics and I also assumed it’s a bit different for every region, thanks in advance!

Well you have an option here. You spent time and energy making this video, but you did publish it. It may be in your best interest to pull it down and wait a while. A few months, a few years, or until the building comes down. It's a situation that some of us on this forum have been in too. Hell, even I get blamed for OTHER people's urbex videos.

https://www.youtub...atch?v=yPXUGvXBW2E

Without specifics though it's hard to answer your last questions.

Do what will help you sleep at night, not worry on a public forum, and get you in the least amount of legal trouble.

I am not a lawyer.

despite what kids seem to think these days, UE is NOT equal to posting photos and videos online. that's a little more like public masturbation of the ego

If you feel that compelled to make these videos, fine.
Just be sure to keep them in a safe place and don't publish them until the statute of limitations has run out (2 years for most misdemeanors in Texas).

Has anyone covered civil liability yet? I'd wait for that statute to run out as well if I were you.

Ah okay, thanks for all this. Some questions that I haven't addressed.

- No I was not informed prior to the creation of this video that people were fined here. It was brought to my attention by some of the people I went with after the video was uploaded.

- Yes my voice is heard in this video, my friends faces are also shown.

- Generally you see this bigger exploring channels breaking into places much more known and don't seem to get in trouble, which is one of the bigger reasons I was asking. Personally I am not too worried of the authorities seeing my video, I was just curious if it was a possibility for me to get in trouble if they did. Thank you for this though, from now on I will be cutting out POE and will be much more careful. I wasn't aware of these things generally, thank you though guys!

Posted by Tribi - Generally you see this bigger exploring channels breaking into places much more known and don't seem to get in trouble, which is one of the bigger reasons I was asking. Personally I am not too worried of the authorities seeing my video, I was just curious if it was a possibility for me to get in trouble if they did. Thank you for this though, from now on I will be cutting out POE and will be much more careful. I wasn't aware of these things generally, thank you though guys!

Odds are, nothing will come of it, but the possibility always exists, of course. "The Authorities" generally have better things to worry about unless you're creating a real issue, but it does happen. More likely, the property owner may run across it while keeping tabs on the place online, especially if it's a known and active spot. Property owners (and even neighborhood groups) can be the real problem.

And, obviously, if there are things tying it back to a real name, then you have the issue of potential employers and the like.

Again, in all likelihood nothing will come of it, but I've never understood the reasons why people go out of their way to film themselves committing crimes (petty as they are) and sharing them with the world.

If no cops come to see you in 2 weeks to a month, TRUST ME your in the clear....

Posted by tunneldude If no cops come to see you in 2 weeks to a month, TRUST ME your in the clear....

Wonder how that is seeing as the statute of limitations is 6 years for trespassing in the last state I checked.

Posted by Smurf Wonder how that is seeing as the statute of limitations is 6 years for trespassing in the last state I checked.

6 years is a long time. They can build a case with that much of a window. For trespassing, doubt any state would waste that much money on urban exploring. Just my 2cents.

Posted by tunneldude 6 years is a long time. They can build a case with that much of a window. For trespassing, doubt any state would waste that much money on urban exploring. Just my 2cents.

words; arson, scrappers.
Or if it's 911 hotspot or active federal/com site, the FBI has jurisdiction.
6 years is a long time to wonder.

Don't explore federal lands. I Explored the Joliet Arsenal in Illinois, and got over 20,000 views on Youtube. The cops came to my door about 10 months later. I got charged with a whole bunch of shit like, "conspiracy to trespass." and they tried to hit me with a separate charge for trespassing in a cemetery that was on Arsenal grounds. Luckily I only got fined, but I had to take the video down. Now its just a grey, blank video: https://www.youtub...atch?v=xXEYEZX2KIE

I've made 13 other vids though, and had no problems with them. If you want me to tell the whole story, just reply to this thread.

I should also mention that the Arsenal had been abandoned for almost 30 years.

Posted by Max Power @strangeplaces The cops came to my door about 10 months later. I got charged with a whole bunch of shit like, "conspiracy to trespass." and they tried to hit me with a separate charge for trespassing in a cemetery that was on Arsenal grounds. Luckily I only got fined,

Jesus, how much was that fine?

I just went back for a second time and had bad timing. Left while a LEO was driving through to go watch hunters or some shit, and asked what I was doing there. I said I was just stepping into the brush for a tinkle, as a camera dangled from my neck at the head of the trail in. He then asked me a few times if I was sure I didn't go in, but my piss story remained the only things on my lips, and then he drove off. Didn't even ask to see my camera, but man I thought it was that sweet four digit figure fine that was about to be slapped on my wallet.

(Of course this is all just a made up story and I don't actually leave my room for anything but volunteer work)

Also, please say the whole story