NO DIGGING ALLOWED!!!! :fisher:

[jim tn]

This post may belong elsewhere, but since I was using my F 75 I will post it here and the mods can move it if they deem necessary to do so.

Fired up my computer at 6a this morning and had an email from Mudpuppy with a time stamp of 4:19a and he mentioned that he was about to make the rounds for some early morning hunting. I occasionally make some tot lot rounds myself on Sun mornings, but most of the schools in the county had been on fall break, so felt such spots would be lean picking. Then I remembered a spot that had recently held a big two day weekend festival not to far away and in years past had always been good for some easy clad pickings. Normally in a couple of hours of hunting time I could walk away with $7.-$8. So, grabbed a fresh cup of java and headed out with the 75.

Got to the spot right at 7a and promptly began finding clad. Had my screw driver in hand for just moving the grass around for the surface finds the 5 x 10 DD coil was locating. About 8a I looked up and noted a Park Ranger vehicle parked beside my Ford Edge and two Park Rangers were just opening their doors and getting out. And, they began heading my way.

I slid my ear phones down and waited for them and one said, "sir, there is no digging allowed in city parks." I replied, " thats a new one on me, but I am not digging, anyway, I am using this small screw driver to move the grass around to locate surface coins." He said, "Well, that is considered digging and we have an ordinance prohibiting any digging on city property. And, anything of value found would need to be turned into the city." I gave him a somewhat bewildered look, but did stop myself from saying, " there is an ordinance against digging, but if I do and find something of value I have to turned it into the city," but I dropped it and said I wasn't aware of such and ordinance and would stop hunting.

Admittedly, I had heard rumbles of such an ordinance prohibiting digging on any city property, but had never checked into it first hand. I do know a fair amount of relic and coin and jewelry hunting is done around in our small city.

Anyway, now I need to decide whether to turn into the city my 17 quarter, 9 dimes, 6 nickels and 7 pennies I recovered from the spot. What would you guys do? HH jim tn

 

[kt]

That stinks, sorry to hear it. The detector manufacturers had better be banding together and hiring some lobbyists if they want to be in business ten years from now. I wonder how many $500-$2,500 metal detectors they will be able to sell in the US when the only place to use one is your own back yard.

 

[nalc472]

People in the past have made this happen to us. By not filling their holes and making it bad for the people now. I always try to fill my holes back so you can not see where I have been. I donate non coins to my historical society that relate to my town. Try to educate people how a positive thing we do.

 

[still looking 52]

Jim I take the money down to city Hall after I exchanged it with the dirties coins I had and then ask for a copy of that ordinance. Most of the time these people don't know what there talking about and then if I found there wasn't such an ordinance I go back to the same spot and start hunting again. This reminds me of the time I was curb hunting and the people who lived on the street thought they owned the curb but in fact it belonged to the city. After telling them that they didn't own that property they said they weren't going to mow it anymore and I said find.I just went on hunting.

 

[Elton]

Will this have an affect on your daily detecting............. Are your usual spots City Parks ??? Will you feel as if you are going to have to sneak around....... ??????????????

Are they just now starting to enforce said law if it is in fact an ordinance that has been passed ?? .

Your still a member of a club right ? Maybe it is time the club members attended a City Council meeting, and made sure they heard YOUR detecting concerns, and thoughts.And gotten on record all of your members desires to be able to detect.

 

[WV62]

People just don't understand, they see somebody digging and they think they shouldn't be doing that.

The park I hunt in has been hunted for years and it still looks like the same park to me and we are still hunting it.

There is one flat area where they try to get the grass to grow but the people playing ball in that area keep it beat down to the dirt most of the time. Nobody thinks they should quit playing ball.

Then on a real nice day you can go to the park and notice that there is trash on the ground everywhere and the grounds people just pick it all up and never say a word.

Then you have people walking dogs and not everybody cleans up after their dog and nobody says, no dog walking in the park.

Why should some people be allowed have fun in the park and some not?

Metal detecting is no more destructive to the park than a squirrel hiding nuts.

Maybe you could take nail pouch and go dig some of the dirtiest money you can find and go down to city hall and dump it out along with the metal trash on the counter and see if they want any of it.

Ron in WV

 

[jim tn]

but this incident will have little effect on my old coin hunting, which, is what I mainly do. Our small city is adjacent to a large city with history going back well prior to the civil war and I can get to many, many good spots within a half hour or so. A couple of school yards and parks and the spot I was on this morning was and is just a few minutes away and handy for some short clad and jewelry hunts.

I am going to look into the ordinance just to make sure the good old Rangers weren't simply over stepping their so called duties. One did mention that a fellow about a year ago did go before the city council and tried to have the ordinance removed and wasn't able to. How strictly it is enforced, I don't know. I do know we have resided here for nearly fifteen years and I have never had a problem. Maybe I simply never was caught?????? In fact, I have had several of our cities finest over the years come up to me and inquire if I was finding anything good and about detectors for getting in the hobby themselves. So, seemingly, the ordinance isn't one that they are either aware of, or, don't care enough to enforce. As one ardent clad stabber emailed me, why would the Rangers even be concerned with some old duffer out early on a Sun morning with a small screw driver and detector in hand? HH jim tn

 

[doc holiday]

Wear a Burka and the storm troopers won't lift a finger.

 

[jim tn]

n/t

 

[Explorer]

I get approached by the police all the time. I lay my digging device down and walk to approach them. I figure it is the park moms or paranoids calling in and since I am bothering no one I do not worry about it. To date I have only had one officer ask to see an ID, all have been courteous and ask what I am doing, most state to be sure to fill my holes which I have always done. I have never been approached by one of our park people yet; but I am waiting for the day they give me a hard time. I have photos of them standing around and not enforcing the "existing posted park rules". ie: the no leash law, the picking up dog droppings, etc. Phones are great for this.

We all need to be vigilant of our elected officials to prevent them from adding new unnecessary laws.

 

[Ronstar]

If I might chirp in here..... Please check with City Hall or the county government prior to detecting. There are numerous examples of generic permission forms on the internet or he agency may have their own. Usually it is not difficult to get written permission to explore and recover items on goverment properties. Most also have a liability release clause so be prepared there. Once written permission is in hand the park rangers or law enforcement are take out of the loop and end of the contact. I have written permission for numerous institutions around the area and those have stopped a lot of confrontations in the field.

Just a piece of advise regarding law enforcement contact. It is probably better to cease your dig and place the detector just out of reach. Stay on the ground if your there as you are less of a potential threat than standing. If you need to get up to retrieve ID then tell them. Always keep your hands in plain view and dont argue. Once the officer makes the intial determination you are not a threat then the contact becomes more relaxed. Follow any directions given as you DO NOT know what information the officer is responding to or what someone else thinks you are doing to get a police response.

 

[JimmyCT]

Sorry to hear this Jim. So sad to see this happening all over the place. I have basically the same rules in my city as well. So far (fingers crossed) my city officials are not enforcing it. I was researching your ordinances for the town you live in and they will pull it from this:


Chapter 12 - OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 12-65. - Malicious mischief.

(a)

For the purpose of this section, the term "malicious mischief" shall be defined and considered as any malicious or mischievous physical injury either to the property or rights of another or to those of the public in general, and without the consent of the owner.

(b)

Without excluding any act not named in this section, but expressly included in this section, the following acts shall be and constitute malicious mischief and a misdemeanor:


(13)

Wantonly or unnecessarily to remove, cut, injure or destroy any tree, shrub, vine, moss or turf, growing or being located upon any public lands of any character whatsoever, including all public parks and the entire rights-of-way of all public highways, roads, streets and alleys.

 

[jim tn]

I wonder what the P R would have said if I hadn't had the small screw driver in hand. In truth, I was able to pick most of the coins up without the use of the screw driver. Probably could have stopped me for injuring a couple blades of grass.

Thanks for locating that part of the ordinance and passing it along. HH jim tn

 

[Hightone]

It sounds like the Park Rangers were siting TENN811. Anything that changes "real property" is not permitted, unless a permit is sought. Even fence posts change real property. And although trees and bushes fall into that category, how many seek a permit?

I started at Greeneville's Town website under Parks and Recreation. Then I went to the maintenance building where the park supervisor is. When I explained I dug a plug and replaced it, he said that was fine. He knew I was removing sometimes sharp metal junk and discarding it as well. He let his men know and I have not been bothered. Educating and conversing worked for me. No law was sited.

The Shriner's Ball Park, next to our main park, said it was OK, but asked if I found something worth good money to donate it to the Shriner's Hospital for Kids. I agreed.

I found it's best to go to who's in charge first. Once they just see you digging, law or not, they will take it as rude and under mining their authority. Best to kiss butt first. Make them a friend through knowledge of intent.

 

[amberjack]

just dump the rubbish you have recovered on the ground and walk off seriously wonder if we are allowed to fart there is laws against green house gasses

keep all the crap you find photograph it and keep the photos I do, what they gunna lock me up for committing a public service

never had many dramas over the years cops would see me late night detecting I would wave and they probably thought there's that loony with his detector and kept driving , was good to see them from time to time know they are around helps a bit in case a real crime is committed or stop one.

cleaning up their parks for free they should be thanking us, and I have been from time to time, 99.9 % of the time no one gives a banana but you know get some power tripper or some guy whos wife just kicked him out come have a whinge or the fun police , but they are rare.

just pick spots and times and which ones fit well

really there is real crime happening cops haven't got time to mess with us had one car stop ask me if I was finding much , said nar not much , cop said you would be better of finding golf balls I smiled and went yeah probably and just so you know there is a busted water pipe in the toilet block seen water coming out of there.

be nice but be real we have rights as human beings !!

AJ

 

[Furious T]

Jim, sounds like you have run into a couple of guys whose sense of power has overruled all their common sense (if they had some to begin with). Unfortunately, it would seem that they have the letter of the law on their side. It would seem to me though, that that ordinance, if strickly applied, would prohibit any use of any park in any way, unless you just walk along the paths where there is no grass growing. Strictly applying that law would prohibit anyone venturning onto any grassed area for any purpose, because walking, running, sitting or lying down on grass does damage it, even though the damage may be slight, and may be repaired (or repair itself) in a short time. If the Authority, through its rangers, is going to be pedantic about applying the law, then it should apply to everyone. How you raise this issue with the Local Authority I'm not sure, but maybe a concerned group could raise it. I am not just talking about a group of metal detectorists, but a group of people who are concerned that their rights of enjoyment of public areas is being taken away by officials who are applying a law in a way in which it was never meant to be applied. Good luck, and hope things improve. Pete

 

[nalc472]

educate the public and not irritate. I have donated a couple of artifacts to the local historical society and they have given me permission to hunt their own historical site that used to be a church. I have to give them the items, however, I love the hunt.