"Any port in a storm" is not just a slogan. If you are in jeopardy, go ahead and tie off. I think the legal principle is called 'force majeur' or you take the lesser of competing harms. Dieing/Scaring the crap out of your kids Vs. pissing off a dock-owner is a no brainer. If being nice doesn't work just tell them you'll wait peacefully for the cops to come. The cop may pretend to give you a warning but I doubt it.
I used to help manage a large private beach in Laconia. I had no problem chasing off people who thought it was a park but if someone tied up during a storm it wasn't worth getting wet to even go talk to them. I've jump started more than a few who drifted up also.
That being said, I would have words with someone who over-cast 20 feet onto the land even if they did stay away from the houses.
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