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Maine Alliance for Road Associations

Experience dealing with a contentious road owner?

  • 29 Aug 2009 8:46 AM
    Reply # 212607 on 201010
    Whether or not the contentious road owner is a member of the organization, it should be possible to deal with him. If he is not, it's easier, but if he is, then he only has one vote and (for example) cannot sue the officers of the road association for carrying out their duties when they are engaged in their administrative activities.

    Could you be clearer on what actual problems this person is causing? Depending on the answer, it may (or may not) be possible for the group to come up with a solution.
  • 29 Aug 2009 10:04 AM
    Reply # 212627 on 201010
    Deleted user
    You need to check a copy of their deed, to see if they have to give you a right-of-way over their road.....Also does it say in your road that you have a right-of-way over their road.  It all comes down to who actually owns the road.
  • 03 Sep 2009 5:05 PM
    Reply # 215691 on 201010
    Deleted user
    I believe the only rights yo have on a right-of-way is to pass over this portion of the road.  You cannot "do as you wish" with this road as it does not belong to you.  The owner just cannot stop you from passing over.
  • 03 Sep 2009 8:35 PM
    Reply # 215747 on 215691
    Deleted user
    Patricia Dignard wrote:I believe the only rights yo have on a right-of-way is to pass over this portion of the road.  You cannot "do as you wish" with this road as it does not belong to you.  The owner just cannot stop you from passing over.

    If that is true it makes the Road Association and state law impotent and moot.
  • 04 Sep 2009 8:57 AM
    Reply # 215852 on 201010
    Are you talking about a public easement? The statute says anybody benefitting from a public easement has the right to form a road association under the statute -- assuming the required number of parcel owners.
  • 16 Nov 2009 9:04 AM
    Reply # 245382 on 215852
    Anonymous
    Betsy Connor Bowen wrote:Are you talking about a public easement? The statute says anybody benefitting from a public easement has the right to form a road association under the statute -- assuming the required number of parcel owners.


    Betsy,You are correct.

     An association is available ,by statute , for a"public easement"where no deed of ownership is recorded on said road,where each lot owner has the road that abuts his lot,or if lots on both sides of road,owns to center of road.  

    A private road,with a recorded deed ,owned by one person ,which allows lot owners to pass over to get to their property,does not give lot owners" a right to do as they wish" to said road. Right Of Way means just that.

     RIGHT TO PASS OVER

  • 19 Nov 2009 11:55 AM
    Reply # 246962 on 215747
    Deleted user
    Ray Ronan wrote:
    Patricia Dignard wrote:I believe the only rights yo have on a right-of-way is to pass over this portion of the road.  You cannot "do as you wish" with this road as it does not belong to you.  The owner just cannot stop you from passing over.

    If that is true it makes the Road Association and state law impotent and moot.


    Indeed.  If I have a right-of-way over someone's land, I can build a road on that right-of-way if I wish.  I can certainly maintain an existing road.

  • 20 Nov 2009 6:32 AM
    Reply # 247243 on 201010
    Deleted user
    A "right-of-way" means just that - your right to pass over this portion of the road, but you CANNOT build a road, or maintain the road per se.....The owner holds all right to this property, but cannot stop you from walking or driving (if it is a road) across this property.....The owner cannot put up blockages or charge for passage...
  • 15 Dec 2009 12:32 PM
    Reply # 257162 on 247243
    Anonymous
    anonymous wrote:A "right-of-way" means just that - your right to pass over this portion of the road, but you CANNOT build a road, or maintain the road per se.....The owner holds all right to this property, but cannot stop you from walking or driving (if it is a road) across this property.....The owner cannot put up blockages or charge for passage...


    I was interested in your concern and decided to look into it further. Found the following from

    Law Office of Elliott R. Teel

    http://www.ertlaw.com/articles/right-of-way_easement

    http://downeastlaw.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/right-of-way-easements-in-maine/

    ....."A right-of-way easement grants the holder only the right to cross the land, but not to change the nature or location of the right-of-way. For instance, if a right-of-way was granted to allow foot traffic down to a beach, the foot path may not be converted into a paved road. While the holder of the easement can do basic maintenance of the right-of-way, they may not cause an undue burden to the land owner."

    So much more information both links have same article one is his office.

    Best of Luck

     

     

     

  • 16 Dec 2009 10:37 AM
    Reply # 257606 on 201010
    Deleted user
    I don't understand all of this angst around easements and their wording.  If the easement statutes apply to "private road" issues then the law we are all trying to use as our justification for road associations, and all that comes with that, is moot, worthless, not worth the paper it is written on.  It is hard for me to believe that the legislature intentionally made this private road law unconstitutional.

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