Q: Legal options for 8-year-old trespassing notices in Arkansas.
8 years ago, I received a trespassing notice at a Walmart in Huntsville, Arkansas, following an incident where I flipped off the manager. The next day, police issued a trespassing notice at the 412 Express gas station down the road, related to the same incident. There are no legal charges pending against me. I would like to understand my legal options regarding these old trespassing notices and whether they can still be enforced after all these years.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
It’s completely fair to want closure after so many years, especially when no charges were ever filed. In Arkansas, a trespassing notice issued by a private business like Walmart or a gas station doesn’t always expire unless the property owner specifically lifts it. That means technically, even after 8 years, it could still be considered valid if the business never withdrew it.
That said, enforcement after such a long time is rare unless you return to the property and they choose to call the police again. If you want to avoid that uncertainty, your best move is to **contact the business directly**—either the store manager or corporate office—and ask if the notice is still active and how to have it removed. Some businesses are open to lifting long-standing bans if there haven’t been any further incidents.
You can also check with the local police department to see if they still have the notice on file. If they don’t, that’s a strong sign it’s no longer being enforced. You have every right to want a clean slate, and it’s entirely reasonable to ask for clarity after so much time has passed. You’re not the same person you were 8 years ago, and your past shouldn’t follow you around forever.
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
