courthouse grounds

[amberjack]

that's right and that's why asking unpredictable or one could say unhinged (humans) is not a great idea as its he said she said and getting it in writing would probably need a court order, best to leave them to use their massive brains to control someone else

AJ

 

[Tom_in_CA]

a different day almost always results in a different answer when dealing with low level
beaurocrats... power and percieved authority are dangerous in the hands of the uninformed.
call any government agency ask a question... call back later and ask the same question to someone else
... id bet a buck the answers wont mesh.

Bingo. I've actually seen that first-hand in cities near me. 3 different people get 3 different answers, depending on what day they show up, who they ask, and how they phrase the question. Meanwhile, 3 others are out there hunting for years by then, wondering "what's all the fuss?" Doh!

Why subject ones-self to that Russian Roulette of "safe" answer routine ? Just look up rules for ones-self (if one is skittish). If no rules/laws say "no metal detectors", then presto, it's not prohibited

That doesn't mean some "added discretion" isn't still appropriate though. Just like nose-picking: Not illegal, but .... you choose discreet times "so as not to offend the squeemish".

 

[Silver Saver]

I've detected our in use county courthouse lawn, although I, myself, would only go when it's not opened so I'm not really bothering anyone or getting any complaints. 1st time I went was a night time hunt and 2 security guards checked what I was up to then just let me be. But as always, depends on local and county laws/rules.

 

[Herb Jones]

well
im gonna hit
mine
up... soon... it looks
prime, and we have few
folks detecting, so its worth a shot
when i want a quick
clean hunt...

 

[Pastor bob]

No, Tom, I have been at this for 20 years. I know how to ask permission. I usually ask the county clerk or sheriff who is in charge of the grounds and I buddy up to them.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... I have been at this for 20 years. I know how to ask permission. ...

Huh ? Didn't you say below that you had only 25% success rate ? And thus 75% failure rate ?

And given that some "yes's" came your way: I suppose it's easy to conclude from them, that therefore asking was a necessary step, right ? After all, "who can argue with a yes?" . And the fact they could grant you a "yes" or a "no", simply means their say-so was necessary. Other-wise, how could they have "granted you permission", if that permission wasn't needed in the first place ?

If they'd said "no", then an md'r says to himself "wow, good thing I asked, otherwise I could have been arrested". If they say "yes", he says to himself "great, now I can detect". So therefore, whether the answer was "yes" or "no", the md'r walks away saying to himself "It was a good thing I asked".

But this logic always struck me as odd. Because: What other option of answer would they have given ? I mean, did you think they might answer like this: "Gee that's an silly question. Why are you asking me ? You don't need my/our permission. If it's not dis-allowed, then it's not prohibited". Nope. Authority never answers like that. They grant you their princely yes or no. After all, your asking merely implies their say-so is needed. Lest why else would you be standing there asking them ? This subconscious implication is not lost on them. So to me, the fact of a "yes" or a "no", does not imply "Ergo: their permission was necessary".

In fact, asking actually sometimes colors the answer. What I mean is: You wouldn't be asking for permission to do something innocuous and harmless (like fly kites or read a book). Right ? Thus the mere fact someone feels they need to ask permission for something, simply casts aspursions on it. As if it's harmful, dangerous, illegal, etc... (lest why else would you be asking, if it were innocuous?)

And for those 75% "no's" you got, what do you do if, later, you find out md'ing was never a problem or issue before, for anyone ?

 

[amberjack]

ask no questions get told no lies

nothing lost on courthouse lawns anyway the people there just gave all their possessions to the barrister or the state

AJ

 

[Herb Jones]

i side with Tom on this one. i check/ research local and state laws in any area where i detect. if there is no ordinance that specifically prohibits me from detecting, then i proceed. i have been asked by local law enforcement officers to move along and when/if they hassle me, i do just that. thats an argument that you can't win, and besides when i detect its for pleasure, so i dont want to get spun up by some knucklehead on a power trip. there are too many other places waiting to detect. if its public property it belongs to me just as much as anyone else.... and i have a few years of life behind me also, i assure you if you call any state/local agent and ask a question, and then call back and ask the same question of a different person, you are almost certain to get conflicting info. most folks dont know the laws that govern metaldetecting, and will simply give an answer they fell is appropriate, rather than say they dont know. ungortunately there are virtually no prerequisites when hiring public servants, and often the job goes to lesser qualified applicants to appease some other intrest. power corrupts, and i have found all to often that people work under "color of authority" , and not legitimate legal authority. call the dmv and ill bet you get the feeling you are being BS'd, and that the person you are talking to doesnt have any idea what the hell they are talking about. its usually just lip service ao you will just go away and not bother them. its been my experience that most clerks, desk jockies are inept. i cant tell you how many times i have been told specifically what was required, only to find out that i had been misinformed. injust wasnt sure if perhaps dept of homeland security had changed how courthouses were viewed due to things like potential terroristic targets, or
if courthouses held some specific exclusion... that being said i think its smartero detect any such are when they are closed.... for the sake of harmony. and by the way back in the 1800s the courthouse lawns were treated as parks, and historical photos often see large crowds gathered for things such as rallies, festivals, and public auctions and executions... so they are likely drop spots. i am gonna hunt mine!