Don't Get Kicked Out Of The Park Yet! Please Read!

[metalfun]

I moved back to my small hometown (population around 700) 3 & 1/2 yrs. ago. Although I do more water hunting, I had started to hunt on land in our small town park after reading some of the posts on park finds. I had never had any problems until last Friday. I was hunting & a guy on a town truck pulled up beside me in the park & told me I couldn't metal detect out there. I told him I had been hunting out there for some time & had never had any problems. I told him that a matter of fact some of the town police had been out there eating lunch in the car while I was hunting & never even spoke to me. I started walking toward the truck saying "I'm not trying to start any trouble, but is there a town ordinance saying that metal detecting is not allowed?" I don't think he even heard what I asked as he drove off while talking on his phone. About 15 minutes later, the town police pulled up beside me & told me I had been called in. This officer used to be the chief of police & I happen to know him. He told me if I would go & talk to the 5 town commissioners they could vote on it & if 3 out of 5 voted yes I wouldn't have any problem continuing to hunt. After seeing 3 of the commissioners, who seemed not to oppose, I was told to go by the town hall and let them know that I wanted to be in the town meeting Mon. night. When I reached the town hall the first one in the office I saw was the town Mayor. I told him that I wanted to address the town board in the meeting. He said that I could, but I wouldn't get an answer the same night. He then said that if I could tell him what I was trying to find out he might could give me an answer. Not wanting to, I told him anyway what I was doing in the park when I was confronted by the town employee that called the law on me. He then said that his thoughts were what would his park look like if he allowed me to hunt & then 50 other people wanted to hunt there. I told him that in our small town I didn't think that would be a possibility. I also told him how I pick up cans, nails, tin, etc. that would keep kids from getting hurt on them. He said he didn't know if we have an ordinance against this, but he would look it up & I could go back by that afternoon he would let me know. I went back to the officers (previous chief) house thinking that the Mayor would surely say no. My police officer friend told me that if I went back & he said there was an ordinance against metal detecting to ask to see it because it is PUBLIC RECORD. So, dreading to go back, I showed up about an hour before closing and the mayor was still there. He told me that all he could say was that when you dig a hole cover it up (which I always do anyway). He said there was digging ordinances, but the all pertained to sewer lines. I told him Thank you & he told me if there were any changes in the future he would let me know. I felt several times during this four day ordeal that maybe I should just forget about it, after all I only found 27 cents on my last visit before being run off by police, but I'm glad I didn't give up and I'm happy to say for now I can hunt in our small town park! Just remember if it happens to you first of all be nice, second stand up for your rights, and make sure the guy who tries to run you off has the authority to do so. (By the way, the guy who ran me off I found out was in charge of parks & recreation in our small town.) Thanks for reading! HH!!!

 

[John-Edmonton]

I wonder how many people have been asked to leave a park, never really challenging the decision?

 

[widebody]

[size=large]to answer your question John, if even one doesn't stand for their rights it's one too many.

HH[/size]

 

[Loosecanon]

In my city we are allowed to MD but no digging (pointless), surface finds only and you get to keep the finds. You do have to get a permit which is free but you have to get one every time you go, there is not a blanket permit, so it is a hassle.

 

[Howard Snell]

I found a park that I like no one has really said anything as of yet I figure at the worst it will be get out. But I'm picking up an enormous amount of trash it should count for something. A freind of mine wants the pull tabs anyway for the Ronald McDonalds house they somehow get money for them.

 

[hotrodzincoln]

What state or province do you live in? Seems I've read somewhere that towns in Ohio and Kentucky are most restrictive about metal detecting. I'm going to retire and move in a couple of years. One deciding factor about a state I would consider moving to is the laws or ordinances against metal detecting. I'm in Utah and haven't had any problems yet. What about folks experiences in other states?

 

[Canine]

This would be a good topic for another thread. Montana is pretty lenient for the most part. Lots of state and national parks, though; depends where you live.

 

[metalfun]

I live in a small town about 30 miles east of raleigh nc. lots of luck with your retirement.HH

 

[hotrodzincoln]

This would be a good topic for another thread. Montana is pretty lenient for the most part. Lots of state and national parks, though; depends where you live.

Thanks - it would be. It could even be a good book or pamphlet for someone to write (not me, my job barely allows time for minimal metal detecting). I was metal detecting a park yesterday, in pouring rain I might add, and a parks guy came up to me. He started a friendly conversation, wanted to know if I had found anything good. I told him what I found then he said his dad metal detects and that he had found a lot of good things at this particular park. So had I. He then suggested that I check a pile of sand that the City Parks had brought in from a playground from another older park where they had to do some excavation. Now is that cool or what?

 

[metalfun]

I wish all park guys were that nice.HH