Federal · Title 43 — Public Lands

43 U.S.C. § 1063: Obstruction of settlement on or transit over public lands

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to use force, threats, intimidation, fencing, or other unlawful means to prevent anyone from settling on or traveling across public lands subject to U.S. settlement laws.

Read the full statutory text

No person, by force, threats, intimidation, or by any fencing or inclosing, or any other unlawful means, shall prevent or obstruct, or shall combine and confederate with others to prevent or obstruct, any person from peaceably entering upon or establishing a settlement or residence on any tract of public land subject to settlement or entry under the public land laws of the United States, or shall prevent or obstruct free passage or transit over or through the public lands: Provided , This section shall not be held to affect the right or title of persons, who have gone upon, improved, or occupied said lands under the land laws of the United States, claiming title thereto, in good faith.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.