Busted detecting curb strips

[oneguy]

Good luck!!!!! We did try and warn you. The City park I cut my teeth on is still very public but no longer allows MD'ing..... Let us know how things end up if you would...????

 

[marcomo]

sparkster, your cop sees it from a different point of view.

He was responding to a complaint, and probably figured if you kept detecting there it could very well cause more complaints.

You've been fortunate before now to have detected sidewalk strips many times without anyone complaining. People do view that little piece of land as their property, whether it technically is or not. And that means people will call the police occasionally when they see you in action.

So if you press the issue at city hall, how do you think they'll respond to the potential problem of citizens irate because someone metal detected, without permission, on what they perceive to be their personal property?

I'm betting the "sparkster ordinance." They won't call it that of course, but they might as well because that law will be all yours.

I'm against the war, but if it happens I'm on your side. I'll sincerely hope my prediction is wrong and wish you good luck with the fight.

 

[MarkCZ]

sparkster, your cop sees it from a different point of view.

He was responding to a complaint, and probably figured if you kept detecting there it could very well cause more complaints.

You've been fortunate before now to have detected sidewalk strips many times without anyone complaining. People do view that little piece of land as their property, whether it technically is or not. And that means people will call the police occasionally when they see you in action.

So if you press the issue at city hall, how do you think they'll respond to the potential problem of citizens irate because someone metal detected, without permission, on what they perceive to be their personal property?

I'm betting the "sparkster ordinance." They won't call it that of course, but they might as well because that law will be all yours.

I'm against the war, but if it happens I'm on your side. I'll sincerely hope my prediction is wrong and wish you good luck with the fight.

This is it,
Complaints, means the squeaky wheel gets greased, to many complaints and then LAWS are put into place to stop or reduce the complaints. Some towns in some states metal detecting is pretty much illegal. They're people and originations that are in a constant battle to protect the hobby, but do to complaints and people that disrespect the hobby its a battle that's facing a losing end.

We can be Right! and still be wrong in about being right.
For us here in our area, we just tossed in the towel on curb hunting, I've not seen anybody hunting a curb in a very long time. People just don't want people stirring and digging around near their property, even hunting public parks can be a problem if someone lives in a house across the street from the park and they see you digging in "Their" park with LARGE digging tools! they'll call the police complaining, its a public park, what your doing isn legal! but the police will come and tell you stop what your doing! To many complaints and one day you arrive at the park to do some detecting and find the park posted "No Metal Detecting"

Good Luck!

Mark

 

[mrshufflr]

I too hunt curb or "median" strips since these areas are city property here. To avoid hassle and arguing with people, which only gives us a bad name even if we are right, I stick with strips that are in front of vacant lots, apartment complexes, and such areas. I have not had a single confrontation hunting these areas.

 

[Goldstrike]

Sparkster, With all due respects, I personally would not proceed with your action. I think the general concensus from those that have posted is yes, you are right BUT as pointed out previously, are you seriously considering what may happen to the hobby in your City?
Please don't let your feelings get the better of you to the detriment of the hobby like some others already have.
I have been to City Hall, along with a number of home owners here on a different issue concerning land usuage at the back of our properties. We retained a lawyer and spent many hours on this and although we were absolutely right on the issue, at the end of the day, City Hall won. We won a battle but they won the war (again, this was not a metal detecting issue).
I can guaranteed that we ALL will run into a grumpy homeowner, a 'wannabe' cop or that police officer or park patrol that are 'pushy' and like to stretch their authority muscle's!!! but not everyone is like that and the majority of people are just fine with our hobby.
Metal detecting is not everyone's cup of tea and both City Hall and the people in every town and city across the nation are not obligated to make concessions for the 1 or 2 or even 10 plus metal detectorists to go wherever they want to with this hobby. It's way too easy for the Cities to pass an ordinance banning not only the curb strips but all the parks as well. It has happened and in my home town, they passed an ordinance banning all metal detecting everywhere, period. Luckily I don't live in my home town now. You have to go outside of town to detect now because 1 metal detectorist dug holes and left them open. That is what the City Hall told me. Just because of 1 careless detectorist, there was a Citywide ban!
Enjoy detecting the parks and everywhere else knowing that you don't have to worry about complaints and such.
Although I want to see you win your case, you may win the battle but I know who will win the war.

 

[MarkCZ]

I too hunt curb or "median" strips since these areas are city property here. To avoid hassle and arguing with people, which only gives us a bad name even if we are right, I stick with strips that are in front of vacant lots, apartment complexes, and such areas. I have not had a single confrontation hunting these areas.

And strike up some friendly conversation with the home owners adjacent to these properties and maybe get permission to hunt other places.
Be friendly!
Leave as little trace as possible that you were there!
Maybe even offer a little help when you see the chance, like help carry something heavy out, maybe walk over and pick up some litter along the curb (after putting your detector down) and while some neighbors around can see you.

The idea is to get into one place via another, that can lead to all kind of possibilities!

Mark

 

[mrshufflr]

I too hunt curb or "median" strips since these areas are city property here. To avoid hassle and arguing with people, which only gives us a bad name even if we are right, I stick with strips that are in front of vacant lots, apartment complexes, and such areas. I have not had a single confrontation hunting these areas.

And strike up some friendly conversation with the home owners adjacent to these properties and maybe get permission to hunt other places.
Be friendly!
Leave as little trace as possible that you were there!
Maybe even offer a little help when you see the chance, like help carry something heavy out, maybe walk over and pick up some litter along the curb (after putting your detector down) and while some neighbors around can see you.

The idea is to get into one place via another, that can lead to all kind of possibilities!

Mark

What few homes are occupied in some of the areas I hunt are not very likely to be inhabited by very friendly peeps. Lately have been working a very run down mixed industrial with a ton of vacant lots where houses used to be. Most of the houses are gone and the few that are left look like fortresses or look like they will be the next to go.

 

[Elton]

I too hunt curb or "median" strips since these areas are city property here. To avoid hassle and arguing with people, which only gives us a bad name even if we are right, I stick with strips that are in front of vacant lots, apartment complexes, and such areas. I have not had a single confrontation hunting these areas.

Your right problems usually only occur on manicured street curb areas in Residential areas.............. It's better to stay clear of those areas , and find a more receptive area for our hobby..

Some in our hobby have the mind set... They will detect where they want, when they want. it just doesn't work that way in some places my friends...

 

[ironsight]

My personal bottom line... when someone, anyone asks, tells or demands me to leave, i leave! And with a yes sir or maam!
Who needs the hassle?

Years ago, i used to search those curb areas and they were very productive too.
Now adays forget it! There are other 'safer' areas to hunt.

 

[LaRelic]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet but in my area the servitude in someone's yard is for utility purposes. Digging of any kind around utilities is highly illegal without getting utility locates first. Digging without utility locates especially if something is broken like phone line, cable, gas, water line, or electric lines can lead to fines into the several thousands of dollars. Not worth it for me....

 

[Steve O]

Correct speedbug. If you hit a Verizon fios line with no dig notification, the fines will break you. You will get fined if you dig and hit lines under the marked area. They are usually deeper than we dig as detectorists, but why chance it. Regular cable lines may be only 6" or less deep. Underground electric lines around here are supposed to be no less than 18" deep. Gas and water are 3' deep....no worries.

I have shut down whole neighborhoods hitting electric lines that were incorrectly marked. I was not fined, the markings were way off. If we have to dig around any utilities, we do it gently, by hand....no thrusting a tunneling bar into the earth. High concentration and an experienced shovel hands keeps you out of trouble.

 

[slingshot]

Since this topic has been read I thought I would just mention what a school admininstrator told me. He was nice and let me continue detecting BECAUSE I had a 4" screwdriver for a retriever-told him most of the coins were on top of the ground (truth)-and there were no signs of holes. His concern was the forthcoming fiber optic cables that are the wave of the future and had been buried on the property. Seems these cables carry ALL the info necessary for the school's operation and any damage to them-well, you get the picture. So whenever you enter these areas, forget your diggers, expensive looking, deep seeking detectors, and be prepared to look as simple as possible. Not only that, half of these schools have been fenced and BARBED WIRED in anyways.

 

[Steve O]

Ha ha, I wasn't clear when saying I shut down whole neighborhoods.....that was while on a excavator, working, digging the sides of foundations for repair. I'm still laughing slingshot, you thinking I dig coins at schoolyards with a tunneling bar....just going by your post is why I thought that...still chuckling...

 

[slingshot]

No, not that at all. I'm just talking about new tech and how officials are gonna overreact even at past prime spots that were formerly open without any supervision are now gonna be watched much more often. I see so many go to these areas and the tools of recovery and I can imagine the thoughts that go thru their minds. And they're being enclosed like prisons now, anyway. You gotta look at it thru their eyes.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Well then, the solution would be, for md'rs to "stop getting complaints". I go at low traffic times, and avoid lookie-lous, hence not leading to the complaints you speak of here. Presto, problem solved. The solution is not to necessarily preclude yourself from places (parks, etc...), but rather, to use a little due discretion, and avoid the lookie-lous you speak of, to begin with.

 

[slingshot]

Well then, the solution would be, for md'rs to "stop getting complaints". I go at low traffic times, and avoid lookie-lous, hence not leading to the complaints you speak of here. Presto, problem solved. The solution is not to necessarily preclude yourself from places (parks, etc...), but rather, to use a little due discretion, and avoid the lookie-lous you speak of, to begin with.

I agree. I was there on a weekend and a school official happened to be passing by. They had closed this school and had just finished tearing out the swings, etc. and had smoothed the playground and were using it for their storage center. He kinda laughed whenever he saw my teeny screwdriver and little Compadre and said, "Well, I don't think you'll be any problem."

 

[Tom_in_CA]

A lot of times whenever you read on forums of someone getting flack from gardeners, police, "concerned parents", etc.... The knee-jerk reaction of the md'r and those reading is that they needed permission. Ie.: somehow "permission would have solved this". The mental image of being able to flash some sort of paper, and they slink away and leave you alone, eh ? But whenever you look deeper into the scenario, you sometimes have to wonder if the OP could have simply used a little more ... uh .... discretion.

For example: If you waltz over beach blankets at an archaeologist convention, and someone there "gets mad", well. DUH! What did someone expect ? And then the md'r laments his "lack of freedoms" or "thinks park permission solves that" ? No, on the contrary: if they wouldn't make themselves a subject of scrunity with giant red X's, a LOT of the problems would be solved (never occur) from the git-go.

 

[tarajudy]

The curb strip belongs to the city. BUT THE HOME OWNER MUST MAINTAIN IT......... In my town we call it an easement the city planted trees along 300 foot strip. when the trees hit the over head wires the city cuts them back. Can you metal detect in this strip yes and maybe not. The home owners property line does not go out that far only about 5-10 before the street. The city also replaced the sidewalk in front of three homes on my block so if they fixed the sidewalk I would think anything from that point to the street is city or town maintained. JUST GO SOMEPLACE ELSE LIKE I DO. SCHOOL YARDS???? SOME ARE FENCED IN LIKE A PRISON WHY??? BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL FIELDS ARE ARTIFICIAL TURF

 

[jackintexas]

People who hunt in front of other people's homes are not considering , you are generating more complaints about metal detecting, Soon the cities will come to the conclusion it would be best for all concerned if metal detecting was banned altogether.....Jack

 

[TheOtherLeggoHead]

Google Curtilage.