Is trash on the curb considered abandoned property?

Question

Please cite your source
Thank- you!

I need to know sources for your information, what law is it that states this or what case ruled this? I have to be able to bibliograph my source.

Answer 1

abandoned property n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intentionally and permanently when it appears that the former owner (or tenant) does not intend to come back, pick it up, or use it. Examples may include possessions left in a house after the tenant has moved out or autos left beside a road for a long period of time, to patent rights of an inventor who does not apply for a patent and lets others use his invention without protest. One may have abandoned the property of contract rights by not doing what is required by the contract. However, an easement and other land rights are not abandoned property just because of non-use. (See: abandon, abandonment)

Answer 2

Trash left on the curb is abandoned - United States Supreme Court criminal law cases. This is the law in all states because the US Supreme Court (the top court in the land) ruled that all police departments have the right to take evidence from any trash that a person leaves out on the street. Once the trash is on the street the person who put it there shows that they have willingly given up control of it and it is no longer considered private property.

Because it was an issue of civil rights and the US Supreme Court said what it did, all courts in the land, state and federal, need to follow the US Supreme Court's lead. I can't remember the case name, but I read the case in law school.

Answer 3

Anything that is left on the curb that you consider trash is now considered fair game. I don't have any resources to back my story, but if you call your local police station they will infact tell you the same thing. There have been many cases that the F.B.I want to get information on a person and they will go through the trash to see if they are selling drugs. It was a very well known case in The Maryland area. You can not do anything about it. I'm not sure what your question is in reference to but the answer is yes once you put it on the curb it is considered abonanded.

Answer 4

The town or city or county normally has an easement, so that they can come up to about 10 feet beyond your property line to pick up trash, and remove or trim shrubs or trees that might be presenting a hazard. If you are considering going through someones trash, I think you need to find better things to do with your time.

Answer 5

Be wary: a definition is not synonymous with "the law" regardless if it comes from a legal dicitonary.

Check your state law, but I believe trash will most often be considered "abandoned property" or property in which you "do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy."

Answer 6

I don't have a source, but a guess.

I assume it's abandoned property if you're talking about used furniture or other stuff you salvage.

For personal information, the person throwing it away may have an expectation that it remain private, so I wouldn't go through my favorite movie star's garbage and not expect to get sued.

Answer 7

When it is set out as trash then it becomes fair game for anyone to come along and pick it up. furniture or anything up to and including cars that are left on the highway for any extended period of time that is even fair game if you want to remove it.... call the state and ask them they will tell you after so many hours even cars can be picked up by anyone.

Answer 8

Not in most cases as the people who are suppose to pick it up claim it is theirs to off set the low price they charge in collecting it.