Man Claims Access Rights to Bluff Road in Amagansett
The Hamptons Police Department was called to Amagansett on Friday after an irate part-time resident attempted to block the street in front of his Bluff Road mansion and then began throwing rocks at any pedestrian or vehicle that tried circumventing his roadblock. Police say the man, Lane Sanders, is claiming the section of road as his own, and is arguing that only his immediate neighbors should be allowed access rights.
“Officers were able to subdue Mr. Sanders and stop his antics for the time being,” Hamptons Police spokesman Larry Hirsch said in a statement on Saturday, “but he has vowed to take his case to the highest court in the land, if that’s what it takes.”
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Sanders told Dan’s Papers that passing cars have long been a nuisance to him and his family, but he finally “cracked” after enduring a particularly busy day of Thanksgiving traffic and, on Friday, another afternoon listening to dozens of trucks and chatty cyclists riding along in front of his home. “There are plenty of other roads to get these people where they’re going,” Sanders said. “I don’t have anything against the locals, but they really don’t need to use this street,” he added. “It’s gone on long enough.”
“From the Hampton Police Department’s perspective, Sanders doesn’t have a case, but this is really a matter for the courts,” Hirsch explained on Saturday. “I will point out though, local people have been using Bluff Road, even this part, for 100 years or more.”
Following his outburst, Sanders was arrested on Friday and charged with a long list of crimes, including assault and vandalism. He was released with a stern warning and $5,000 bail later that evening.
Hirsch said police are keeping an eye on Sanders for the remainder of his Thanksgiving weekend, but they are not expecting any more trouble—at least outside a courtroom.