Easements are your property, you simply can not deny use by public utilities...but you pay taxes on it. In either case it is property you "control". When I had a drug dealer living across the street (he was a nice guy but the company he kept...) I mowed, worked on cars and everything with a sidearm, typically covered but not too carefully. Never had a problem, had several patrol officers come through and some would stop and chat (ostensibly to watch for a while).chabouk wrote:srothstein made some good points, but I think he brings up a difference, even though he didn't mention it: there is a difference between "on" and "in".
Speaking of... the curb isn't your property. Your mailbox, ditches, or sidewalks are most likely within the right of way. I know the ROW takes a good 5' slice off the front of my lot. I'm still responsible for that slice, though: if I don't maintain it, even if I mow right up to the edge of the ROW, they'll send me nastygrams threatening fines. Thus, I must conclude that I control that strip of land, even if I don't technically own it.
Added in edit: In deference to common wisdom I include the following. IANAL, IANYL, IDNPOOTV, IDNSIAHIE and IANROFL. So there.