Legal Definitions - trap

Definition: A trap is a device or contrivance used to capture living creatures or catch someone unawares. It can also refer to an ultrahazardous hidden peril of which the property owner or occupier has knowledge.

• A pitfall or snare used to capture animals is a type of trap.
• A mantrap is a device used to catch trespassers or burglars. It can be legal if it is designed to sound an alarm and not cause bodily harm, but illegal if it can injure a person, such as a spring gun.
• A hidden condition on a property, such as a deep hole, can also be considered a trap if the owner or occupier knows about it but does not warn others.

These examples illustrate how traps can be used to capture animals or people, and how they can be legal or illegal depending on their design and purpose. They also show how a trap can exist even if it was not intended to catch anything, but poses a danger to those who are unaware of it.