jryoung
Well-known member
Came across an unlocked gate lastnight and it got me thinking so I was wondering what the internet opinion of the situation is.
The specifics, huntable timber company land (classic checkerboard with National Forest), spur road with gate, gate closed but unlocked. Unlocked but there were two holes for the locking pin, the first hole put the pin into a cylinder housing so no one could cut it. The second hole was fully exposed and just through the bar of the gate (more of a pin holder). The pin was in this hole and the padlock was locked at the bottom. There was no catch that would have held open or otherwise indicated that the gate should have been open. Another tidbit was earlier this summer they brought in some equipment in to clear the growth on the edges of the road to open it up.
So my question is, with the pin intentionally outside of the secure housing is this gate technically open? Was the locker of the gate unaware of how the system actually worked? Was it unlocked for the work done and likely someone forgot to lock it back up so it technically is closed?
I treated it as locked, but with a moose tag in my pocket my thoughts ran wildly. I was curious at to those that may have come across something like this before. I mean, what if a stiff wind blew it open when I first came across it. All signs would then indicate it should be open.
The specifics, huntable timber company land (classic checkerboard with National Forest), spur road with gate, gate closed but unlocked. Unlocked but there were two holes for the locking pin, the first hole put the pin into a cylinder housing so no one could cut it. The second hole was fully exposed and just through the bar of the gate (more of a pin holder). The pin was in this hole and the padlock was locked at the bottom. There was no catch that would have held open or otherwise indicated that the gate should have been open. Another tidbit was earlier this summer they brought in some equipment in to clear the growth on the edges of the road to open it up.
So my question is, with the pin intentionally outside of the secure housing is this gate technically open? Was the locker of the gate unaware of how the system actually worked? Was it unlocked for the work done and likely someone forgot to lock it back up so it technically is closed?
I treated it as locked, but with a moose tag in my pocket my thoughts ran wildly. I was curious at to those that may have come across something like this before. I mean, what if a stiff wind blew it open when I first came across it. All signs would then indicate it should be open.
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