WaterWalker
Well-known member
Passing on the latest:
From: "Roger Barbrick"
Date: May 22, 2014 10:04:22 PM
Subject: DCR detecting ban petition follow-up
First I want to thank you all again for signing the petition to stop a ban on metal detecting on Massachusetts DCR run State beaches. Please keep sharing and getting signatures.
I have been communicating by phone and email with a DCR official and we discussed a meeting he had earlier this week with the DCR Commissioner. Apparently the Commissioner is very understanding of our concerns and they assure me that their intention is not to stop us from beach detecting but to have some "control" and say over it.
Now having said that, I am cautiously optimistic but still guarded. According to the DCR, in the past permission from a supervisor was not written, and they want to have a mechanism in place where permission is provided. They want us to have to obtain "permission" from the "supervisor", and my problem is that we never had to do that before, and timing, tides etc, doesn't really fit in. I expressed that we have never had to find someone to get permission to beach hunt in the past and that I don't see the reason for it in the beach setting.
He agreed with me and stated that the beaches are really not their concern, but really the parks and the special protected sections of beaches. I stated that we understand the desire for park permission since as far as I know it was always that way anyway (correct me if I'm wrong).
I asked if we are still ok to hunt DCR beaches for now and he said that we were and that he would work on this further and continue to communicate with me. Hopefully, they will simply drop any restriction on the beach detecting and we go back to business as usual, but just in case I stated the following:
I made a suggestion that if there was a desire to ban or even control the metal detecting on DCR beaches and other property, maybe folks can get an annual permit to hunt DCR property (at no cost or minimal cost), and when the permit is given a copy of areas "off limits" and a jointly written Code of Ethics and Rules also be given to the detectorist. Anyone found not following the rules would be fined accordingly.
Now understand, this was just a suggestion that I posed in the event that they are looking to ban detecting outright on beaches and parks - nothing set in stone, but we are talking and trying to figure out a happy middle. I am trying to tread carefully so that we get the least restrictions possible for us.
They truly seem to want to work with us so both sides can be happy, but I want to continue collecting signatures and to keep everyone aware of a potential battle down the road.
Please let me know if you or anyone you know are told that they cannot metal detect on a DCR run beach.
Right now it is one step at a time, and I will communicate again with the DCR over the next couple of weeks and update you all after that.
Thanks again
Roger Barbrick
From: "Roger Barbrick"
Date: May 22, 2014 10:04:22 PM
Subject: DCR detecting ban petition follow-up
First I want to thank you all again for signing the petition to stop a ban on metal detecting on Massachusetts DCR run State beaches. Please keep sharing and getting signatures.
I have been communicating by phone and email with a DCR official and we discussed a meeting he had earlier this week with the DCR Commissioner. Apparently the Commissioner is very understanding of our concerns and they assure me that their intention is not to stop us from beach detecting but to have some "control" and say over it.
Now having said that, I am cautiously optimistic but still guarded. According to the DCR, in the past permission from a supervisor was not written, and they want to have a mechanism in place where permission is provided. They want us to have to obtain "permission" from the "supervisor", and my problem is that we never had to do that before, and timing, tides etc, doesn't really fit in. I expressed that we have never had to find someone to get permission to beach hunt in the past and that I don't see the reason for it in the beach setting.
He agreed with me and stated that the beaches are really not their concern, but really the parks and the special protected sections of beaches. I stated that we understand the desire for park permission since as far as I know it was always that way anyway (correct me if I'm wrong).
I asked if we are still ok to hunt DCR beaches for now and he said that we were and that he would work on this further and continue to communicate with me. Hopefully, they will simply drop any restriction on the beach detecting and we go back to business as usual, but just in case I stated the following:
I made a suggestion that if there was a desire to ban or even control the metal detecting on DCR beaches and other property, maybe folks can get an annual permit to hunt DCR property (at no cost or minimal cost), and when the permit is given a copy of areas "off limits" and a jointly written Code of Ethics and Rules also be given to the detectorist. Anyone found not following the rules would be fined accordingly.
Now understand, this was just a suggestion that I posed in the event that they are looking to ban detecting outright on beaches and parks - nothing set in stone, but we are talking and trying to figure out a happy middle. I am trying to tread carefully so that we get the least restrictions possible for us.
They truly seem to want to work with us so both sides can be happy, but I want to continue collecting signatures and to keep everyone aware of a potential battle down the road.
Please let me know if you or anyone you know are told that they cannot metal detect on a DCR run beach.
Right now it is one step at a time, and I will communicate again with the DCR over the next couple of weeks and update you all after that.
Thanks again
Roger Barbrick
