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Edisto SC detecting
- Thread starter Jason73
- Start date
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
South Carolina beaches are public property and are available to be detected. The beach in front of the state park is public. Most of the SC State Parks may be detected with the permission of the Park Manager. Just stay off any dunes. Wish you luck as Edisto has been the stingiest beach I have ever tried to work.
What gave you the idea that you can't detect SC state beaches? If you look at the FMDAC state-by-state listing for SC verbage, it's only the historical sites that are off-limits. Not "all state parks".
As for the part on there about "... with permission from park office" (which I see that George also suggests to do), I question that. Because notice in the FMDAC's expanded version (when you click on the state's name), that this "ask first" is NOT in the actual state law. It is only commentary that someone (whoever answered the "pressing question inquiry" letter sent by the FMDAC when they compiled that list) put on there. Notice too that state of CA has the same answer (ie.: "...with permission"). Yet I can tell you for a fact that you can detect state of CA beaches here till you're blue in the face. And no .... no one asks. They've just always ever been detected since the 1960s. Thus since SC has no actual verbage that you must "have permission", and that's only someone's safe-answer commentary, I would question that.
In fact, by everyone going and "seeking permission" for something that's not expressly prohibited, is the FASTEST way to eventually get a state's beaches put off-limits. Because sure as heck, the repeated inquiries are gonna land on the desk of some archie, etc...
As for the part on there about "... with permission from park office" (which I see that George also suggests to do), I question that. Because notice in the FMDAC's expanded version (when you click on the state's name), that this "ask first" is NOT in the actual state law. It is only commentary that someone (whoever answered the "pressing question inquiry" letter sent by the FMDAC when they compiled that list) put on there. Notice too that state of CA has the same answer (ie.: "...with permission"). Yet I can tell you for a fact that you can detect state of CA beaches here till you're blue in the face. And no .... no one asks. They've just always ever been detected since the 1960s. Thus since SC has no actual verbage that you must "have permission", and that's only someone's safe-answer commentary, I would question that.
In fact, by everyone going and "seeking permission" for something that's not expressly prohibited, is the FASTEST way to eventually get a state's beaches put off-limits. Because sure as heck, the repeated inquiries are gonna land on the desk of some archie, etc...
dobbratacus
Member
Kudos to you my man. Well said. Just do it!
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
Tom I have read the State Regulations about detecting in State Parks in South Carolina. They specifically state that metal detecting can only be done with the permission of the Park Manager. The regulations also state that ALL Relics must be left where found and the Park Manager notified. Some of the State Parks forbid metal detecting all together. In this State not following the regulations is a good way to pay a hefty fine. Personally i do not plan on paying any fines. You do as you Please.
George, I think that you'll find an occasional person on the boards that often advocates breaking rules and laws instead of working to change bad ones. Some don't understand that their individual freedom must occasionally be checked because there are other people in existence with similar (or Exactly) the same freedoms. Being a citizen of the USA does not give one the exclusive personal right to do as one pleases with every public piece of property in existence. We all live in this place together and have to get along. That's why Laws/etc are created. To suggest we all do what we want regardless of the laws is to advocate Anarchy. Not a realistic or adult course of action imo. Even most toddlers eventually understand that they don't always get their way. The smart ones learn to manipulate the system to get what they want.
I have no problem with an informed individual asserting his Rights or even pushing the envelope as long as he is willing to take responsibility and pay the price for his actions. What bothers me is encouraging less knowledgeable folks to risk fines and loss of equipment claiming 'the way it Should be' and glossing over 'the way it Is'.
This kind of topic really should be relegated to the General Discussion/Whine forums. The OP is interested in facts unless I miss my guess.
I have no problem with an informed individual asserting his Rights or even pushing the envelope as long as he is willing to take responsibility and pay the price for his actions. What bothers me is encouraging less knowledgeable folks to risk fines and loss of equipment claiming 'the way it Should be' and glossing over 'the way it Is'.
This kind of topic really should be relegated to the General Discussion/Whine forums. The OP is interested in facts unless I miss my guess.
Thanks for the comments
I know that SC has some screwy laws regarding State parks and even national forest areas.. They make up new laws or change the meaning of existing one to fit their needs.. Table rock state park has a swimming area and a sandy beach which is open for anyone that enters the park... I was curious about detecting so i took a ride up after the summer season was almost over. I talked to a ranger and he said they open for detecting for 1 day and you have to buy a permit and you have to have your finds inspected before you leave and if you find anything interesting they seize it... so that gold ring or silver ring is theirs for the taking... so i guess i could be dishonest and hide my good finds but i shouldn't have to give them squat.. They said if people lose rings they have to fill out a description card so they can get the ring back to the rightful owners.. WHICH I HAVE NO PROBLEM AS LONG AS THE PEOPLE GET THEIR STUFF BACK....So i ask what if they never filled out anything who gets the item????? He said they auction them off... RIGHT!!!! I SO BELIEVE THAT.. Looks like ranger rick has some new bling...
AS far as sc forestry areas they said you can detect but you cant dig.. You can scrape the ground if you get a signal but no digging allowed. SO if i scrape the ground deep enough is that considered digging???
City parks I detect all the time
So i guess with all those barney fife rangers running around I guess i just want to detect in peace without someone nosing into my life.. AND since edislow had a public beach and state park beach i wanted to hear they are both detectable by people that have detected both beaches.
jason73
I know that SC has some screwy laws regarding State parks and even national forest areas.. They make up new laws or change the meaning of existing one to fit their needs.. Table rock state park has a swimming area and a sandy beach which is open for anyone that enters the park... I was curious about detecting so i took a ride up after the summer season was almost over. I talked to a ranger and he said they open for detecting for 1 day and you have to buy a permit and you have to have your finds inspected before you leave and if you find anything interesting they seize it... so that gold ring or silver ring is theirs for the taking... so i guess i could be dishonest and hide my good finds but i shouldn't have to give them squat.. They said if people lose rings they have to fill out a description card so they can get the ring back to the rightful owners.. WHICH I HAVE NO PROBLEM AS LONG AS THE PEOPLE GET THEIR STUFF BACK....So i ask what if they never filled out anything who gets the item????? He said they auction them off... RIGHT!!!! I SO BELIEVE THAT.. Looks like ranger rick has some new bling...
AS far as sc forestry areas they said you can detect but you cant dig.. You can scrape the ground if you get a signal but no digging allowed. SO if i scrape the ground deep enough is that considered digging???
City parks I detect all the time
So i guess with all those barney fife rangers running around I guess i just want to detect in peace without someone nosing into my life.. AND since edislow had a public beach and state park beach i wanted to hear they are both detectable by people that have detected both beaches.
jason73
George, here's what I was reading:
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/files/State%20Parks%20Files/State%20Parks%20Files/Metal%20Detection%20Policy.pdf
And that exact same text, is what comes up when you click on the FMDAC's state by state list (when you click on the name of the state for expanded version of how they came up with their "yes" or "no"). And now I see that this wasn't only simply an answer given to someone who wrote in (like someone compiling a list such as that). But instead, is on SC's actual state park web-site. So I stand corrected.
If you go down that FMDAC's website's 50 states, you will indeed find some that are written in the context of someone there only answering a letter sent to them. So, for example, it might say " with permission". And then they back that up with something about "disturbing wildlife", etc.... huh ? In other words, you have found someone who interprets it as a "no" or "with permission", but no where is it actually specific that SAYS such a thing. California is an example of that. So when I got to the bottom of the SC thing, and saw their referencing (ie.: backing up what they'd just said as a "policy" ) to be: Section 51-30-70, then it appeared to me that everything ABOVE that was merely an interpretation (extrapilation) of that.
And I would stand by that , if it weren't in actual park's verbage (as a written policy), versus an answer someone got because they went in and asked "can I?".
There are SCORES of places where someone sent a letter, or went in and asked, and got told "no", or "yes but you can't dig", or "turn in everything, even your pennies" or "with permission", etc.... And, heck, that answer may even come back in writing to you. Yet when you look deeper, it is nowhere actually written down like that. So does that make it "law" from then on out, even if no one ever had a problem detecting there ? Could those be cases of "no one cared till you asked" ?
But in this case, it's actually on the SC website (not a silly answer given to someone compiling a state by state list). So I do stand corrected.
Question for you George: Assuming someone got permission then to detect a beach there 10 yrs. ago (because it's non-historic, blah blah blah). Then does that apply to other md'rs who come after him ? So like if your buddy "has permission" to detect a beach, can you join him the next day (or year, or decade, etc...)? Or does each individual person have to ask permission for the exact same location, that had previously always been yes to those who asked before that , at that spot ?
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/files/State%20Parks%20Files/State%20Parks%20Files/Metal%20Detection%20Policy.pdf
And that exact same text, is what comes up when you click on the FMDAC's state by state list (when you click on the name of the state for expanded version of how they came up with their "yes" or "no"). And now I see that this wasn't only simply an answer given to someone who wrote in (like someone compiling a list such as that). But instead, is on SC's actual state park web-site. So I stand corrected.
If you go down that FMDAC's website's 50 states, you will indeed find some that are written in the context of someone there only answering a letter sent to them. So, for example, it might say " with permission". And then they back that up with something about "disturbing wildlife", etc.... huh ? In other words, you have found someone who interprets it as a "no" or "with permission", but no where is it actually specific that SAYS such a thing. California is an example of that. So when I got to the bottom of the SC thing, and saw their referencing (ie.: backing up what they'd just said as a "policy" ) to be: Section 51-30-70, then it appeared to me that everything ABOVE that was merely an interpretation (extrapilation) of that.
And I would stand by that , if it weren't in actual park's verbage (as a written policy), versus an answer someone got because they went in and asked "can I?".
There are SCORES of places where someone sent a letter, or went in and asked, and got told "no", or "yes but you can't dig", or "turn in everything, even your pennies" or "with permission", etc.... And, heck, that answer may even come back in writing to you. Yet when you look deeper, it is nowhere actually written down like that. So does that make it "law" from then on out, even if no one ever had a problem detecting there ? Could those be cases of "no one cared till you asked" ?
But in this case, it's actually on the SC website (not a silly answer given to someone compiling a state by state list). So I do stand corrected.
Question for you George: Assuming someone got permission then to detect a beach there 10 yrs. ago (because it's non-historic, blah blah blah). Then does that apply to other md'rs who come after him ? So like if your buddy "has permission" to detect a beach, can you join him the next day (or year, or decade, etc...)? Or does each individual person have to ask permission for the exact same location, that had previously always been yes to those who asked before that , at that spot ?
Jason, re.: your lost & found observations: An interesting study to do, is to look up what the state of SC's lost & found laws are. Because ALL states have lost & found laws. There's usually some sort of value criteria (eg.: $100 or more, $250 or more, etc...) that require someone to turn in found items to the police. So that , for example, you can't keep wandering cattle, or those wads of bills that dropped out of an armored car, or the mountain bike you "found" leaning against the light pole in front of 7-11, etc... And if I'm not mistaken, in all 50 states, if no one claims those items (in 30 or 90 days or whatever), then the item goes to the person who found it. NOT AUCTIONED OFF. It's only auctioned off it the person who found it decides he too doesn't want it.
So can the parks dept have a separate policy that goes against the state's own laws ? But as I say, you'd have to read SC's lost & found code. Perhaps all items are auctioned off, and the finder gets zilch ?
And you're right: What's to stop that ranger from giving his wife that nice diamond ring ? Or giving that Rolex to his cousin Joe ? I know that sounds horrible, but ..... think about it: What have you lost ? NOTHING. It was never yours to begin with. You only found it. So how have you been harmed ? You turned it in fully expecting that it might be claimed. And they'd have no obligation to tell you who claimed it (privacy laws). So I too am sometimes skeptical .
As far as the rest of the silly-ness of SC's policys you were told ("scratch" vs "dig" etc...), I wonder: If you were to go back in time, to a time BEFORE this was addressed (to whenever it got into print there): What precipitated that ? What made them all-of-the-sudden think "Let's make policies about permit prices, scratch vs dig, turn in all finds, certain days of year only" etc.... I mean, did a ranger one day see an md'r and think "aha! Let's make a policy!". Or did an archie see an md'r and think "Oh me oh my, he might find an old coin" ? I'm betting that the genesis of this is that someone(s) way back when, went in asking questions, seeking permissions, asking for clarifications, etc.... Then presto: a policy or law is born. And as you can see, any such "permit" is always riddled with sillyness. FAR from being some sort of "carte-blanche".
So can the parks dept have a separate policy that goes against the state's own laws ? But as I say, you'd have to read SC's lost & found code. Perhaps all items are auctioned off, and the finder gets zilch ?
And you're right: What's to stop that ranger from giving his wife that nice diamond ring ? Or giving that Rolex to his cousin Joe ? I know that sounds horrible, but ..... think about it: What have you lost ? NOTHING. It was never yours to begin with. You only found it. So how have you been harmed ? You turned it in fully expecting that it might be claimed. And they'd have no obligation to tell you who claimed it (privacy laws). So I too am sometimes skeptical .
As far as the rest of the silly-ness of SC's policys you were told ("scratch" vs "dig" etc...), I wonder: If you were to go back in time, to a time BEFORE this was addressed (to whenever it got into print there): What precipitated that ? What made them all-of-the-sudden think "Let's make policies about permit prices, scratch vs dig, turn in all finds, certain days of year only" etc.... I mean, did a ranger one day see an md'r and think "aha! Let's make a policy!". Or did an archie see an md'r and think "Oh me oh my, he might find an old coin" ? I'm betting that the genesis of this is that someone(s) way back when, went in asking questions, seeking permissions, asking for clarifications, etc.... Then presto: a policy or law is born. And as you can see, any such "permit" is always riddled with sillyness. FAR from being some sort of "carte-blanche".
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
I have noticed that Ken. Some folks will advocate that others break the Law but certainly will not be the one who has to pay the fine.
A young man got caught by a Cop Detecting one of the City of Charleston City Parks. The fine was $50.00 for the first offense.
Personally I stay off properties where there are laws on the books that say "No Detecting" The City of Charleston and the County of Charleston both have Laws on the books that forbid metal detecting.
A young man got caught by a Cop Detecting one of the City of Charleston City Parks. The fine was $50.00 for the first offense.
Personally I stay off properties where there are laws on the books that say "No Detecting" The City of Charleston and the County of Charleston both have Laws on the books that forbid metal detecting.
Thanks for the reply's and info. I know sometimes its better to ask for 4giveness than permission.BUT I believe many of the problems started with a few idiots..... that leave holes open,,, throw their trash near the backstop fences,,,, tip over the bleachers and act like they are the only person that matters.. A few idiots make it bad for the rest of us. Not us that ask for permission.. I have been stopped by the city grounds keepers cutting the lawn at a park and he inspect the area and he finally wondered over and said i saw you digging but i cant find your dig marks.... He said he has kicked guys out before because they left messes everywhere. and then unlocked the ball field fence and told me to have at it.. so some may think i'm just bragging but i'm not just an example of what should be happening.. GB GL & HH JASON73
goldnugget
Active member
Jason73,
Georgeinsc gave you the answer that you were asking for in his last reply,South Carolina beaches are Public. You can find some free parking along the curbs and Facing the pier, there is about 5-6 free spots to the right and then to the flat left is a parking area where you can park. in front of the pier and to the right , caution do not park where you see the concrete individual spaces,they are reserved for pier and. Restraint customers. Do not Detect in the dunes, you have over 4 miles of beach to detect,as Geoegeinsc,mentioned these beaches are stingy,hope you have a. Good sturdy beach scoop goldnugget
Georgeinsc gave you the answer that you were asking for in his last reply,South Carolina beaches are Public. You can find some free parking along the curbs and Facing the pier, there is about 5-6 free spots to the right and then to the flat left is a parking area where you can park. in front of the pier and to the right , caution do not park where you see the concrete individual spaces,they are reserved for pier and. Restraint customers. Do not Detect in the dunes, you have over 4 miles of beach to detect,as Geoegeinsc,mentioned these beaches are stingy,hope you have a. Good sturdy beach scoop goldnugget
Questions such as those that have come up in this thread are exactly why I always look up the laws myself. Then if something is unclear, I will stop by the local PD and ask if there is a law against it. If they say yes, I ask them to cite the law reference #.
This is all done without any ITSMYBYGODRIGHTTODIGANYWHEREIWANTSOFU attitude. Acting like an adult and treating folks like you'd expect to be treated yourself goes a long way in my experiences. I have yet to be treated poorly or turned down(tho they remind me to fill holes, etc and often joke about finds).
People tend to treat you like you treat them. Funny how that works. Well, it works in the South. Maybe people in other parts of the country have perpetually bad days. Maybe those folks should take a long look at themselves if they are in perpetual conflict with authorities too.
This is all done without any ITSMYBYGODRIGHTTODIGANYWHEREIWANTSOFU attitude. Acting like an adult and treating folks like you'd expect to be treated yourself goes a long way in my experiences. I have yet to be treated poorly or turned down(tho they remind me to fill holes, etc and often joke about finds).
People tend to treat you like you treat them. Funny how that works. Well, it works in the South. Maybe people in other parts of the country have perpetually bad days. Maybe those folks should take a long look at themselves if they are in perpetual conflict with authorities too.
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
I was thinking about a drive down there next week. Hummmmm Might change my mind. Sounds like you had the same kind of results that I had the two times I went down there. I thought that maybe I was just in the wrong location.