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Help!!! :help: Did anyone see NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams tonight? (RE: fines for leaving holes on the beach...) :shrug:

S

Stacey in West Palm Beach

New member
I was sitting here at my computer working on something around 6:50 p.m. tonight (March 31st, NOT on April 1st, April Fool's Day) with NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams on low in the background. I wasn't really paying any attention, but I heard him say that in some beach side community in S.C. (Palm Isles??? I'm not sure), something about "they" either passed a law or want to pass a law that anyone who builds sand castles in the sand MUST flatten them before leaving the beach AND that beach goers must FILL THEIR HOLES, due to the danger of people falling in and breaking a bone or something - OR the penalty will be (or is) a $500 fine!!!! :yikes:

I missed most of the clip, so I tried to research it on MSNBC.com and googled Palm Isle, S.C. and couldn't find anything on this story.

If anyone can find a link or any info on this story, I'd sure like to get a heads up. I don't plan to go to S.C., but all of us, as detectorists, should be concerned about the precedence this could set for our hobby.

With all the Gold Hungry NEWCOMERS :twodetecting: :chase: jumping on the "I'm gonna get rich quick with my new metal detector" bandwagon out there, you can bet there will be A LOT more holes all over our beaches! It's our job to educate these new detectorists to the code of ethics: "fill your holes and take the trash!" Let them know that our hobby is in danger, due to careless people who dig holes and don't fill them.

Did anyone else hear about this news report?

HH!

Stacey
 
http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2008/03/31/ap-state-sc/d8vnt7080.txt
 
Well, I have to say I think that is crazy, but, I don't have to worry, because, even on the beach, I fill my holes. I don't care how many holes somebody else leaves behind, they are not going to pin one on me. I started out that way & I ain't gonna change. I've stepped in a few holes myself. But, lifes a beach. LOL
 
...but my intention was to give everyone a heads up that this is increasingly becoming an issue around the U.S. - laws are being proposed and enacted that will influence the future of our hobby. As I said in the quote below:

"...you can bet there will be A LOT more holes all over our beaches! It's our job to educate these new detectorists to the code of ethics: "fill your holes and take the trash!" Let them know that our hobby is in danger, due to careless people who dig holes and don't fill them."

Yes, I too PERSONALLY fill my holes, I also try to educate others - both newcomers and old timers to the hobby - about the importance of filling holes and not leaving trash behind. Unfortunately, it often falls on deaf ears. I am not "personally" worried about getting a fine. That is not my point or concern. I am worried, as I said in my post, about the precedence this is setting around the U.S. and about the fact that there are many newcomers to the hobby who want to "get rich quick" due to the price of gold. These are not people who are monitoring our treasure hunting forums and joining clubs, and they aren't reading books to learn about the proper way to detect. They buy cheapo detectors from Radio Shack and set out without any training onto our beaches, digging holes and causing us all trouble along the way. Their ignorance DOES affect us all. Those holes that you are ignoring are giving us all a bad name. Bad PR equals proposed legislation. Proposed legislation equals - on occasion - PASSED legislation. Even if you personally aren't leaving holes, as you say, there are tons of idiots who do. Those are the ones we all need to look out for and to educate. If we don't all take a stand then one day we'll be talking to our grandkids about "the good old days when we used to be allowed to treasure hunt on beaches without a license." OR worse yet, "the good old days when metal detecting was still LEGAL."

I think most of us here on the forums are smart enough to know that filling our holes is the RIGHT and EXPECTED thing to do. What we need to do is go a step further and be a positive example to those who don't know the treasure hunters' code of ethics. We need to NOT turn the other way and ignore those inconsiderate hunters who leave holes. It isn't all about US. Yes, WE KNOW what to do....but do the newbies? If we want to continue to enjoy this hobby without further constraints, then we need to think beyond what WE are doing and help spread the word to others. Or suffer the long-range consequences.

Stacey
 
[quote TONE JUNKY]Well, I have to say I think that is crazy, but, I don't have to worry, because, even on the beach, I fill my holes. I don't care how many holes somebody else leaves behind, they are not going to pin one on me. I started out that way & I ain't gonna change. I've stepped in a few holes myself. But, lifes a beach. LOL[/quote]

It's not crazy and you had better worry if you want to continue hunting on beaches. Even though you and many of us fill our holes back in there are lots of people who don't. They figure the tide will come in and do it for them. But by then somebody may get hurt by stepping in one and that's all it's going to take. I live on the beach and every time I go out I find holes all over the place where people have been hunting. And it's not just tourists either. I personally know some of the people who do this and I have talked to them about it but they keep doing it. The metal detecting hobby is sitting on a time bomb and the clock is ticking. Some of our hobby has been taken away by stupid laws and people who think we're stealing and destroying vital historical evidence. Funny thing is that around here just about every significant archaeological site was found by people enjoying this great hobby. Then the state moves in and everything is off limits. Now it's going to happen on the beaches and though it might start here, believe me, it's like a cancer and it will spread. Many of us will no longer be able to enjoy our beaches as we have in the past. Personally I think it's going to happen. It may be sooner or later but it's coming. I really hate to see it. Let's all do what we can by using good practices and encouraging others to do the same. We just might keep things going for awhile. The scary part of this is that in my post the other day I made the comment that beachgoers could dig holes and build sand castles all day and never have anything said but let one metal detectorist leave a hole open and someone get hurt because of it and metal detectors would be banned. If they're putting the beachgoing crowds on notice you had better believe that we are included. End of my rant. btw, I only live a few miles from Isle of Palms, SC, just across the harbor near Folly Beach.
Jerry
 
[quote Stacey in West Palm Beach]...but my intention was to give everyone a heads up that this is increasingly becoming an issue around the U.S. - laws are being proposed and enacted that will influence the future of our hobby. As I said in the quote below:

"...you can bet there will be A LOT more holes all over our beaches! It's our job to educate these new detectorists to the code of ethics: "fill your holes and take the trash!" Let them know that our hobby is in danger, due to careless people who dig holes and don't fill them."

Yes, I too PERSONALLY fill my holes, I also try to educate others - both newcomers and old timers to the hobby - about the importance of filling holes and not leaving trash behind. Unfortunately, it often falls on deaf ears. I am not "personally" worried about getting a fine. That is not my point or concern. I am worried, as I said in my post, about the precedence this is setting around the U.S. and about the fact that there are many newcomers to the hobby who want to "get rich quick" due to the price of gold. These are not people who are monitoring our treasure hunting forums and joining clubs, and they aren't reading books to learn about the proper way to detect. They buy cheapo detectors from Radio Shack and set out without any training onto our beaches, digging holes and causing us all trouble along the way. Their ignorance DOES affect us all. Those holes that you are ignoring are giving us all a bad name. Bad PR equals proposed legislation. Proposed legislation equals - on occasion - PASSED legislation. Even if you personally aren't leaving holes, as you say, there are tons of idiots who do. Those are the ones we all need to look out for and to educate. If we don't all take a stand then one day we'll be talking to our grandkids about "the good old days when we used to be allowed to treasure hunt on beaches without a license." OR worse yet, "the good old days when metal detecting was still LEGAL."

I think most of us here on the forums are smart enough to know that filling our holes is the RIGHT and EXPECTED thing to do. What we need to do is go a step further and be a positive example to those who don't know the treasure hunters' code of ethics. We need to NOT turn the other way and ignore those inconsiderate hunters who leave holes. It isn't all about US. Yes, WE KNOW what to do....but do the newbies? If we want to continue to enjoy this hobby without further constraints, then we need to think beyond what WE are doing and help spread the word to others. Or suffer the long-range consequences.

Stacey[/quote]

Great post, Stacey. You said it far better than I could.
Jerry
 
Linda, is that you? :wiggle: I knew you were a Huntress, but didn't know you were a Gypsy Huntress! Cool handle! :thumbup: (Much more creative than "Stacey in West Palm Beach!" Maybe I should change my name to "Stacey the Verbose!" OR "Stacey the Opinionated!")

Thanks for the compliment! I do think this is an issue that should remain in the forefront if we are all serious about protecting our beloved hobby. Regarding your suggestion that my "rant" would make a good club newsletter editorial, if we have room for it, part of it, or even the entire thread in this month's newsletter, I say let's go for it!

(I know - I know.... I owe you the final edited version of our newsletter. I should have it to you by tomorrow. Thanks for your never-ending patience. New name suggestion: "Linda the Patient.")

HH!
Stacey
 
Stacey ......Here's a link to an article.....

http://wizbangblog.com/content/2008/03/29/build-a-castle-in-the-sand-pay-a-fine-out-the-butt.php
 
Yes, Thinkin2, My point was that if everybody filled their holes, perhaps we wouldn't be here discussing this now. And, the general public wouldn't be forced to take action. It always amazed me how I could go to a beach & see all the huge holes dug by sunbathers, castle builders, & the teenie boppers just burying beer cans, but if I leave a hole unfilled, somebody would want to ban me from the beach. Well, the beaches I go to in Florida use a beac comber that pretty much refills the holes as it goes over them & knocks down the high spots as it combs the sand. Perhaps they should invest in one of these machines.

By the way, I'm going to Charleston this summer for the first time. Now this puts a little damper on my trip. I'm staying in Myrtle Beach also for a few days. I can't wait!

HH.
 
,Jerry, thanks for the Post, I do alot of my Detecting on Folly Beach. Hope you get to do some detecting this week after the N'Eastern Blow you had today and the ice pellets P/ S, The Police are nice and helped me find my vechle about midnight one night down toward the park, I came off the beach about 2 block to far. Great Story-Treasure Hunter loose Car
Goldnugget-Charlotte-NC-gosports1@aol.com
 
[quote goldnugget],Jerry, thanks for the Post, I do alot of my Detecting on Folly Beach. Hope you get to do some detecting this week after the N'Eastern Blow you had today and the ice pellets P/ S, The Police are nice and helped me find my vechle about midnight one night down toward the park, I came off the beach about 2 block to far. Great Story-Treasure Hunter loose Car
Goldnugget-Charlotte-NC-gosports1@aol.com[/quote]

Hi, goldnugget. Kind of an embarassing thing to lose your car I would think, lol. Easy to do in an unfamiliar place though. I sometimes carry a little handheld gps unit with me. Always takes me right back to where I started from. The beach can really become disoreinting if it's a strange area to you. One thing you might want to remember about Folly is that they have a time cutoff for parking in the designated lots. Also if you ever park in the county park area make sure you're out before they close and lock the gate. Not sure what time they close the park either because I don't hunt down there anymore. I think it's either 10 or 11pm for the other designated parking areas. They also have boxes set up where you have to pay to park now. I don't think the time thing applies to areas on the street except for areas down at the Washout as long as you're totally off the pavement but it does apply to all of the other little areas along the beach. They also now have pay boxes on the street that runs by the Washout. Other side streets in any of these areas should be fine as long as you aren't on anyone's property and all your wheels are off the pavement. But always be aware of your surroundings on the beach down there at night. As far as the storm I don't know. I haven't been down to the beach for about three weeks. I guess I should run down for a minute just to take a look. It's only a ten minute drive. I've been really tied up with dental appointments and other things lately. Good hunting.
Jerry
 
[quote TONE JUNKY]Yes, Thinkin2, My point was that if everybody filled their holes, perhaps we wouldn't be here discussing this now. And, the general public wouldn't be forced to take action. It always amazed me how I could go to a beach & see all the huge holes dug by sunbathers, castle builders, & the teenie boppers just burying beer cans, but if I leave a hole unfilled, somebody would want to ban me from the beach. Well, the beaches I go to in Florida use a beac comber that pretty much refills the holes as it goes over them & knocks down the high spots as it combs the sand. Perhaps they should invest in one of these machines.

By the way, I'm going to Charleston this summer for the first time. Now this puts a little damper on my trip. I'm staying in Myrtle Beach also for a few days. I can't wait!

HH.[/quote]

Hi ya TONE JUNKY. It would be great if everybody would do that but they won't. And a lot of it comes from the locals around here too. I've tried talking to some of them about it but it's the same old story about the tide coming back in and doing their work for them. The beach comber things like you mention in Florida will probably not happen around here but I don't think they would help the problem any because the holes, if not filled in right away, pose a threat for more than enough time to have someone get hurt. As far as letting it put a damper on your visit to Charleston this summer, I wouldn't worry too much about that. As far as I know it's only Isle of Palms that is talking about this and they are always complaining about something. All of the wealthy front beach homeowners want the taxpayers to pay for beach renourishment to keep their homes from being washed into the ocean. Anybody stupid enough to buy beachfront property around here deserves what they get. These beaches have had erosion problems for forever, partly due to the jetties that lead into the harbor, or at least that's the conventional wisdom on it. In closing this post let me just say that I have actually had people come up to me while I was covering a hole back up and tell me, with a look of surprise, that they had never seen anybody do that before. btw, there is a lot to do and see in Charleston so I hope you will enjoy your trip for that as well as for the detecting. Good hunting.
Jerry
 
Yes Jerry, we plan on doing a lot of sight seeing in Charleston. My wife will sleep late everyday & that is when I will go detecting. In the afternoons & evenings, we will be sightseeing & shopping, ( or whatever she wants to do). I will be their the first 2 weeks of June & I will go to the Ilse of Palms beaces while I'm their. Perhaps we could get together for a hunt or any hints on where to go or not to go?

Thanks for your comments. I've enjoyed reading your posts. HH
 
Well, I am going to wear my two badges when I start detecting at the beach. A badge with my club name and member number and the other with the club's Code of ethics. That should let people know that you are serious about the hobby and know the rules and also educate people in the process.
 
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