Is Razor Wire Legal? Understanding the Legal Factors

Whether you’re talking about a young, community baseball diamond or a professional stadium, razor wire is an unwelcome sight. Literally. Not only does it present injury risks, it can also get in the way of a ballgame – not to mention ruining eyes at home who are trying to watch from the stands. But, the question remains, is razor wire legal? Or, more specifically, is razor wire legal when it comes to a public space, whether a youth league baseball field in Denville, New Jersey, or a divisional Diamond in the Major Leagues?

As a community organization, Denville Baseball has overseen the development of three baseball fields in Denville, New Jersey. And while they’re communally-run spaces for expanded recreational opportunity, they fall under local legislation because they’re on public land. What does public legislation have to do with razor wire? Is razor wire legal at any point on a community baseball field? Assuming so, are there any limitations as to where a community could use razor wire without running afoul of safety risks? After all, razor wire is – and, furthermore, looks like – a hazardous material.

Unfortunately, unless you’ve got appropriate supervision, there’s no way of ensuring that a little kid isn’t going to run into razor wire and poke herself on it (or even worse, stab herself). That’s true on a baseball diamond, and it’s true on any community property. There’s one silver lining to those unfortunate facts. Because razor wire is dangerous, there’s little doubt from the outset about its legality. A quick spin around the internet on the question, is razor wire legal, will yield articles about criminal charges pressed against individuals who, in an attempt to protect their property, decided to install razor wire fences.

A razor wire fence stands out for miles – either in roles of long, silver wire, or in short spikes, or in coils. It’s a visual identifier of risk, one that you’d hope most citizens would actively avoid unless they cannot help themselves. But, few citizens are that dedicated in a sport, particularly one like baseball. Drawn into the excitement of a game, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment, eager to cheer on one’s team or even make a catch of a flyball at the fence. Nobody likes losing a game. But, few people derive any real pleasure from telling the ump, “Hey, nobody was in the way of the flyball when I tried my best to catch it. That’s ball 3.” Instead, you want a chance for that base hit, you want that stroll around the bases, you want the home run ball. Unfortunately, that competitive spirit can lead to an injury.

In those cases, the laws change a bit. Was the razor wire visible-like a fence or low-hanging chainlink? Was it a hidden in an unintended way, a deep slope in the outfield? Did you install it around a trashcan, perhaps because you didn’t want anyone to steal the trash? When Denville Baseball put in place to outfield with adjacent razor wire, they did so for protection against intruders. But, if someone ran over the razor wire and fell, Denville Baseball could find itself in a legal conundrum-did we put the razor wire in the way, or was it always intended as a boundary solution? Moreover, if someone broke through the fence and cut their fingers on a razor, could the assailant argue that he “had a justifiable reason” for entering into the razor fence area? When entering, did he hurt himself by accident, or did he try to grab onto the sharp cable?

At some point, even the best community baseball organizations have to realize what their limitations are and guard against the worst potential outcomes. In this case, it’s defending against razor wire. That means consulting legal sources and legal experts. By studying understanding your rights when it comes to razor wire, you’re able to make lawful decisions about when and where to install boundary materials or protective materials. You can avoid unexpected injuries and legates later on down the road. Lawful alternatives include, and can be found through the article, comprehensive razor wire legal guidelines. With coverage on the history of razor wire in America, razor wire’s appearance and public safety risks, and when to seek legal advice about razor wires at Denville, the article proves useful in multiple situations.