A person commits the offense of criminal trespass or criminal trespassing by entering or remaining on the property of another—including residential land, agricultural land, recreational land (such as a vehicle park), a building, an aircraft, or an automobile—without consent and if the person (1) had notice that the entry was forbidden, or (2) received notice to depart, but failed to do so.
The definitions and penalties for criminal trespassing vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s penal or criminal code (statutes).
In Utah, criminal trespass is defined under Utah Code § 76-6-206. A person may be charged with criminal trespass if they enter or remain on property without permission and with the knowledge that they are not allowed to be there. This includes residential, agricultural, and recreational property, as well as buildings and vehicles. The law specifies that a person must have either received notice that entry is forbidden or, if they have entered the property, they must have been asked to leave and then failed to do so. Penalties for criminal trespass in Utah vary depending on the circumstances and the type of property involved. For example, trespassing on agricultural or residential property may be treated more severely than trespassing on other types of property. Penalties can range from a class B misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor, which could result in significant fines and jail time.