Pastor bob
Member
Does anyone out there hunt these strips WITHOUT getting permission. I know they usually are classified as city property so I wonder if anyone just does it without door knocking.
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Hunting sidewalk strips
- Thread starter Pastor bob
- Start date
Where I live, they are pretty much non-existant. However, I have a friend in Marrieta, Ohio. He has checked with the police, etc, to confirm that is city property and not homeowner's property. That is a pretty old town, and the strips are very wide (over 6 feet). He hunts them and explains to the owners that it is city property, not theirs. For the real die hards, he carries a few empty syringes in his bag to show them. Never seen it fail that the residents encourage him to get back to work.
He never says whose yard he found them in, btw...
He never says whose yard he found them in, btw...
I love hunting those grassy strips between the curb and gutter. Especially in areas where cars park next to the curb and the passengers have to step out onto the grassy strip. People lose lots of stuff getting in out of the car. If the grassy area is really manicured I won't detect it. Its city property all right but I don't want to get a homeowner mad who has put a lot work into keeping it looking nice. It hasn't happen yet, but if someone does say something to me, I'll just tell them it's city property and move down the street some so I'm not out in front of their home. No need to get someone mad at you and the police called.
tabman
tabman
Well, you sort of answered your own question: Yes they're city property (or ... well... at least the city and public has rights to access them, like when you step out of your car, etc....). However, this doesn't mean that "everyone will love you" when or if you hunt them. But ... heck, for THAT matter, it's entirely possible that someone can dis-like your detecting at the park, beach, school-yard, etc.... So the fact that "someone may not like it" ... to me .... simply means to pick more discreet times. Out of site is out of mind. So if you're going to hit them, do it at odd times of day when it's not likely that anyone will see. While I know this sounds like "sneaking around", Ok, fine then, go ahead and "sneak around" 
Heck, we ALL sort of use a little bit of common sense in picking our times to be detecting. For example: If you show up at a park to detect, and there's a concert going on in the park that day (or an archaeologist convention, etc....) you choose a different place to detect, right? NOT because "it's illegal", but simply .... well, kinda like picking your nose: not illegal, but you use a little discretion on your timing.
I've hunted sidewalk strips before and found silver and stuff. And no, I didn't ask. But they were usually ratty ones in business districts of old-town districts (like where it's just hardpan ground, not grass per se). Or ones in front of apartment complexes, or in front of abandoned or vacant homes, etc.... Sometimes, yes, regular turfed ones in front of occupied homes, but ..... just with the proper discretion of timing.
Heck, we ALL sort of use a little bit of common sense in picking our times to be detecting. For example: If you show up at a park to detect, and there's a concert going on in the park that day (or an archaeologist convention, etc....) you choose a different place to detect, right? NOT because "it's illegal", but simply .... well, kinda like picking your nose: not illegal, but you use a little discretion on your timing.I've hunted sidewalk strips before and found silver and stuff. And no, I didn't ask. But they were usually ratty ones in business districts of old-town districts (like where it's just hardpan ground, not grass per se). Or ones in front of apartment complexes, or in front of abandoned or vacant homes, etc.... Sometimes, yes, regular turfed ones in front of occupied homes, but ..... just with the proper discretion of timing.
MarkCZ
Well-known member
In the early 80's this was called "Curbing"
Me and my brothers have had the police called on us several times by the property owners that the curb was in front of. Each time its the same,
Police pulls up,
calls us over to the side and says,
Yes, the city curbs are "Public Property"
And yes the city reserves the right to access them for gas and water service.
BUT! the people that own the home that the section of curb is in front of mow it and somewhat maintain it.
So, legally your not breaking the law, but its best if you just move on and not start any more trouble!
The best times to curb hunt is in the middle of the night, but this too has it problems.
I learned, that when I pulled up and parked that I needed to walk to the other end of the block and work my way back. Late at night city people will sometime look out the window to see who the late night arrival is, then when you get out and just start detecting they call the police on you for being a "Suspicious" person. Then the police come and check you out and tell you to move on.
One LATE NIGHT curbing,
I parked near a corner with a street light,
got out got my stuff on and starting detecting.
Now from my view I thought I was fine,
I had on tan corduroy pants and my Lumber yard nail apron.
Its around 2:00am and a light drizzle of rain.
I'm detecting and here comes the police,
He rolls down the side class and has his spotlight on me. Then he could see what I was doing.
He was laughing so hard he couldn't hardly talk. He says to me,
Your Not Going To Believe The Call That Came In On You!
"There Is Some Man Sweeping The Sidewalks At 2:00am In Their Underwear In The Rain"
That is a true story!
I just went home. But the times I went late night curbing after that I parked at one place and just took my stuff and walked completely out of sight before I started to hunt.
For me its not worth the trouble trying to explain to the home owners that the curb doesn't belong to them and them getting mad and calling the police, so its been YEARS sense I've hunted any curbs.
Mark
Me and my brothers have had the police called on us several times by the property owners that the curb was in front of. Each time its the same,
Police pulls up,
calls us over to the side and says,
Yes, the city curbs are "Public Property"
And yes the city reserves the right to access them for gas and water service.
BUT! the people that own the home that the section of curb is in front of mow it and somewhat maintain it.
So, legally your not breaking the law, but its best if you just move on and not start any more trouble!
The best times to curb hunt is in the middle of the night, but this too has it problems.
I learned, that when I pulled up and parked that I needed to walk to the other end of the block and work my way back. Late at night city people will sometime look out the window to see who the late night arrival is, then when you get out and just start detecting they call the police on you for being a "Suspicious" person. Then the police come and check you out and tell you to move on.
One LATE NIGHT curbing,
I parked near a corner with a street light,
got out got my stuff on and starting detecting.
Now from my view I thought I was fine,
I had on tan corduroy pants and my Lumber yard nail apron.
Its around 2:00am and a light drizzle of rain.
I'm detecting and here comes the police,
He rolls down the side class and has his spotlight on me. Then he could see what I was doing.
He was laughing so hard he couldn't hardly talk. He says to me,
Your Not Going To Believe The Call That Came In On You!
"There Is Some Man Sweeping The Sidewalks At 2:00am In Their Underwear In The Rain"
That is a true story!
I just went home. But the times I went late night curbing after that I parked at one place and just took my stuff and walked completely out of sight before I started to hunt.
For me its not worth the trouble trying to explain to the home owners that the curb doesn't belong to them and them getting mad and calling the police, so its been YEARS sense I've hunted any curbs.
Mark
Pastor Bob:
It just seems reasonable to me that permission should be asked before detecting on anyone's curb lawn area.
In my city curb lawns are not public property.but if they were that still wouldn't make it right for me to dig on something the property owner maintains.
We have to show respect my friend !!!
It just seems reasonable to me that permission should be asked before detecting on anyone's curb lawn area.
In my city curb lawns are not public property.but if they were that still wouldn't make it right for me to dig on something the property owner maintains.
We have to show respect my friend !!!
Wouldn't it be "showing respect" to leave no trace of our presence? I do not see detecting as "dis-respectful" (since when is that an automatic equivalence??) And as for the mental connotation (yes, md'ing does carry connotations), fine then: Do it when no one's around. What's "disrespectful"? I do not consider the mere act of md'ing to be dis-respectful at any time.
To think otherwise, is to put md'ing in some sort of "evil" category. Since when is that a given? Sure someone might gripe. Give lip service and move on, and avoid that one person in the future.. So too might someone gripe anywhere! I even had a lady on the beach tell me my detector bothered her dog ! doh! (I think she thought it emitted some sort of sound frequencies that only dogs heard??)
I think md'ing in curb strips is VERY respectful, and that everyone should be proud to have had their curbs md'd by me
To think otherwise, is to put md'ing in some sort of "evil" category. Since when is that a given? Sure someone might gripe. Give lip service and move on, and avoid that one person in the future.. So too might someone gripe anywhere! I even had a lady on the beach tell me my detector bothered her dog ! doh! (I think she thought it emitted some sort of sound frequencies that only dogs heard??)
I think md'ing in curb strips is VERY respectful, and that everyone should be proud to have had their curbs md'd by me
I'd love to sit and have a long debate about this subject with you fellas which I really didnt think too much about until I started detecting a few years back...."Trespassing" seems to be one of those issues that elicits strong feelings from both sides of the detecting camp. Situational ethics aside, if a person who "owns" a particular piece of ground never sees a trespasser, their sign, or any evidence they were there, is the "trespasser" EQUALLY guilty of an offense? Akin to the long standing question: "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it did it make a sound?" This debate would run as deep as breaking any minor "law" for that matter. I'm sure we all go about our daily lives trying to not break any laws within reason, which is just a prudent way to behave in general.
Its "illegal" to smoke on the beach, yet I will be smoking out there today, early and all by myself, I also probably will break a speed limit within reason there and back, most likely it will be driving too slow on the interstate. Will change into my swim suit in the parking lot instead of at the beach house changing rooms, which are locked this early anyway, which if caught could be considered "indecent exposure" and then theres taking a whiz several times per morning...Now, nobody would know that any of these infractions ever occured, or would they care, UNLESS they were all done in the middle of the day in the midst of a crowd.
The trespassers that are in the news now are the ones that just move into an empty house, and if they do certain things right, in 7 years THEY own the place! hows that compared to detecting a curb strip for pennies!
The trespassers that really shine are the ones that move into a Country, grab all sorts of benefits, dont pay taxes, break all sorts of laws, wandering around throughout society in broad daylight...so who cares about an old guy smoking on the beach if nobody ever sees him? I guess the thing is to not focus on "obeying laws" but to focus on not breaking big ones at the wrong time of the day flagrantly.?
Mud
Its "illegal" to smoke on the beach, yet I will be smoking out there today, early and all by myself, I also probably will break a speed limit within reason there and back, most likely it will be driving too slow on the interstate. Will change into my swim suit in the parking lot instead of at the beach house changing rooms, which are locked this early anyway, which if caught could be considered "indecent exposure" and then theres taking a whiz several times per morning...Now, nobody would know that any of these infractions ever occured, or would they care, UNLESS they were all done in the middle of the day in the midst of a crowd.
The trespassers that are in the news now are the ones that just move into an empty house, and if they do certain things right, in 7 years THEY own the place! hows that compared to detecting a curb strip for pennies!
The trespassers that really shine are the ones that move into a Country, grab all sorts of benefits, dont pay taxes, break all sorts of laws, wandering around throughout society in broad daylight...so who cares about an old guy smoking on the beach if nobody ever sees him? I guess the thing is to not focus on "obeying laws" but to focus on not breaking big ones at the wrong time of the day flagrantly.?
Mud
Now let's get back to reality here. Where is it written, or even suggested (WE) me, You, Anyone, has the right to detect where ever we like Tom.
You go detecting on curb lawns without at least showing courtesy to the care taker your asking for problems.. I don't care who owns it..
You, Me, nor anyone else has the "God Given Right" to detect where ever we want to.. Once we all reach that mind set trouble is bound to happen.
I'm not talking city problems, legal problems, I'm talking good old courtesy & manners........... Maybe something you don't consider............ I do..
When was the last time you actually went down a street and detected peoples tree lawns ( Curb Lawns) that you did not have permission to hunt Tom........ How did that work out for you?. If you did so.
Why would one want to cause that type controversy over finding a few coins........... COME ON GET REAL !!!
Your cavalier attitude, and my conservative attitude will never see eye to eye...........So I'm out of here. We can go back and forth for the next 5 years here and it will not change my mind or your mind. One will ask for permission, or one will not.
All I know is I am seeing less, and less places to detect for some reason. What do you suppose contributes to some of that "NO Detecting" ?????????????????????
You go detecting on curb lawns without at least showing courtesy to the care taker your asking for problems.. I don't care who owns it..
You, Me, nor anyone else has the "God Given Right" to detect where ever we want to.. Once we all reach that mind set trouble is bound to happen.
I'm not talking city problems, legal problems, I'm talking good old courtesy & manners........... Maybe something you don't consider............ I do..
When was the last time you actually went down a street and detected peoples tree lawns ( Curb Lawns) that you did not have permission to hunt Tom........ How did that work out for you?. If you did so.
Why would one want to cause that type controversy over finding a few coins........... COME ON GET REAL !!!
Your cavalier attitude, and my conservative attitude will never see eye to eye...........So I'm out of here. We can go back and forth for the next 5 years here and it will not change my mind or your mind. One will ask for permission, or one will not.
All I know is I am seeing less, and less places to detect for some reason. What do you suppose contributes to some of that "NO Detecting" ?????????????????????
Henceforth I will refrain from deep thought that early in the morning without sufficient coffee and oxygen in my system to attempt a half way intelligent reply!
Anyway, I'm back from the beach with no ill effects from my indiscretions and enough coffee and air in my system to respond correctly.
I was thinking about Discretion and Common Sense as well as how Statistics and Probablilitys affect us in this sport of Metal detecting, and without the proper understanding of them, could give our sport a "black eye".
Most laws are intended to teach Discretion and CommonSense to those that dont have them, and the fines/punishments sometimes incurred can be looked upon as tuition. I would rather not debate with a homeowner the legal details regarding who owns the rights to curbstrips, I would also prefer not to knock on somebodys door to ask them if I could, generally out of respect for their time and not wanting to bother anybody.
In regards to protecting the reputation of this sport, being invisible is probably the best way. Sooner or later though no matter how careful and respectful the majority are, SOMEBODY always ruins it for the rest!
We hunt for the evidence that people leave behind that represent a lack of Discretion and CommonSense. Thats why totlots are so productive for us!, kids have no CommonSense or Discretion, furthurmore, they are also thieves and have the propensity to raid Ol' Grandpas coin collection and then either spend it at the local store, or lose it in some fashion!.
A detectorists contribution to societys moral example is best served by returning lost items when possible, sometimes engendering press coverage of the event, which could inspire somebody else to greatness as a human...Is it wrong to NOT return something lost? Lets say a gold class ring, Thats a debate that also rages on in our World of metal hunters and has no right answer either. Two camps here, you either do or you dont. If you ask permission, cool, if you dont, just dont be seen.
Mud
Anyway, I'm back from the beach with no ill effects from my indiscretions and enough coffee and air in my system to respond correctly.
I was thinking about Discretion and Common Sense as well as how Statistics and Probablilitys affect us in this sport of Metal detecting, and without the proper understanding of them, could give our sport a "black eye".
Most laws are intended to teach Discretion and CommonSense to those that dont have them, and the fines/punishments sometimes incurred can be looked upon as tuition. I would rather not debate with a homeowner the legal details regarding who owns the rights to curbstrips, I would also prefer not to knock on somebodys door to ask them if I could, generally out of respect for their time and not wanting to bother anybody.
In regards to protecting the reputation of this sport, being invisible is probably the best way. Sooner or later though no matter how careful and respectful the majority are, SOMEBODY always ruins it for the rest!
We hunt for the evidence that people leave behind that represent a lack of Discretion and CommonSense. Thats why totlots are so productive for us!, kids have no CommonSense or Discretion, furthurmore, they are also thieves and have the propensity to raid Ol' Grandpas coin collection and then either spend it at the local store, or lose it in some fashion!.
A detectorists contribution to societys moral example is best served by returning lost items when possible, sometimes engendering press coverage of the event, which could inspire somebody else to greatness as a human...Is it wrong to NOT return something lost? Lets say a gold class ring, Thats a debate that also rages on in our World of metal hunters and has no right answer either. Two camps here, you either do or you dont. If you ask permission, cool, if you dont, just dont be seen.
Mud
I always ask for permission on private or public property. This shows that even tho I'm a taxpayer, I respect the property I hunt on and will take care of it and leave no evidence of my presence. With all the bad things happening in our world, people are afraid of what they don't understand and just a little communication can prevent a lot of fear and aggravation. What I do on public or private property not only affects me, but everybody else in our hobby. Happy Labor Day and HH.
Pastor bob
Member
I will put the worms back in the can on this subject. Thanks for your opinions.
Low-Boy/LCPM
Active member
I would hunt strips that are not mowed and the grass is dead and would look for houses that are huge and the front stirp is far from the house. Some houses have gates that cover the front lawn and entrance there is less of a problem I would think where you are not a threat to the home owner and just move fast and dig and be in and out and move on to the next strip
Wow, didn't know I would elicit that much passion from you Elton! Calm down there boy
If detecting were inherently wrong or dangerous or somehow evil, then yes, everything you're saying would hold true. Ie.: "ask permission" even though not technically dis-allowed, since it's inherently wrong or askew, etc....
Sure, I agree that there are "connotations" that make a curb-strip different than parks, schools, beaches, etc... Because the lawn-in-question is maintained by the homeowner (as opposed to the school or park which is mowed by city staff). Granted. That's why I suggested going at off-times. Like as one poster pointed out, in the middle of the night, for instance. I knew an old retired guy in my town, who would get up at 4am (just an old-fogie routine or something), and hit the curb strips every morning from about 5am to 6am, in neighborhoods that predated 1960.
As for your supposition that failure to ask permission to hit curb-strips leads to anti-md'ing laws, how about seeing it this way: If you go to city hall and ask "can I hit curb strips", that too (the mere act of asking) can also bring about "no's" or laws to "address this issue". I realize you were probably referring to asking the owner, not the city, right? But just curious, if someone's going to go through all that trouble (knocking on doors sucks), then why not just ask to detect the whole lawn, instead of just only the curb-strip ?
If detecting were inherently wrong or dangerous or somehow evil, then yes, everything you're saying would hold true. Ie.: "ask permission" even though not technically dis-allowed, since it's inherently wrong or askew, etc....
Sure, I agree that there are "connotations" that make a curb-strip different than parks, schools, beaches, etc... Because the lawn-in-question is maintained by the homeowner (as opposed to the school or park which is mowed by city staff). Granted. That's why I suggested going at off-times. Like as one poster pointed out, in the middle of the night, for instance. I knew an old retired guy in my town, who would get up at 4am (just an old-fogie routine or something), and hit the curb strips every morning from about 5am to 6am, in neighborhoods that predated 1960.
As for your supposition that failure to ask permission to hit curb-strips leads to anti-md'ing laws, how about seeing it this way: If you go to city hall and ask "can I hit curb strips", that too (the mere act of asking) can also bring about "no's" or laws to "address this issue". I realize you were probably referring to asking the owner, not the city, right? But just curious, if someone's going to go through all that trouble (knocking on doors sucks), then why not just ask to detect the whole lawn, instead of just only the curb-strip ?
I've never asked and only had the cops called once, they just asked me to move over to the next one. We call these strips "Devil's Strips" because sometimes you cath the devil for being there
Now a days when I hunt these strips I wear a reflective vest in orange and sometimes wear a hard hat. People sometimes question, "are you looking for my Water shut off?" I just mumble something and they leave me alone.....nge
Now a days when I hunt these strips I wear a reflective vest in orange and sometimes wear a hard hat. People sometimes question, "are you looking for my Water shut off?" I just mumble something and they leave me alone.....ngeSorry for the rant............. Why not just ask to hunt the whole house property. Then if your told no..Opens the door to say "Ok then I will just hunt the City owned curb strip". Sure would solve a lot of issues for us when detecting. They know your there. It's legal in most places, and you can kind of judge how it will go with the property owner all at once... [size=large]What do you think ??.[/size]
I am not against detecting the curb. Just against causing an issue that creates more problems in the long run Sir. I hunt along factory side road curbs all the time in fact. Never had a problem with anyone. And, in my town property owner owns the curb......... All turned over to owners a few years ago when city found out Water and sewer lines had issues. They didn't want to pay for their section of the repairs..LOL
Saved them Millions and added to the tax base we pay to boot...........
I am not against detecting the curb. Just against causing an issue that creates more problems in the long run Sir. I hunt along factory side road curbs all the time in fact. Never had a problem with anyone. And, in my town property owner owns the curb......... All turned over to owners a few years ago when city found out Water and sewer lines had issues. They didn't want to pay for their section of the repairs..LOL
Saved them Millions and added to the tax base we pay to boot...........
MarkCZ
Well-known member
Times have changed sense the early 80's those middle of the night, quite vacant city streets then are now busy,
with more drug users and more crime people are even more cautious and the same street now generally has more late night traffic.
Hunting curbs with permission from the city isn't a fix or a cure for the real problem, its the property owners, No! your not breaking the law, but the police will respond to the complaint. In doing so they will not try to calm the property owner down and try to get them to give in to our want to hunt that section of the curb, nor will they likely tell you you can't hunt the curbs, they just tell you it would be best to move on somewhere else.
Now, if you can get permission from the property owner to hunt the curb then there is no complaint made, the police don't come and all is well.
They're is a number of reasons why I don't go curbing any more, here our a few,
Its not real safe to hunt in the middle of the night anymore (At one time I never felt in any danger).
trouble with the property owners running me off.
here is maybe the main reason, in the 1980's the silver and the other good old coins were running 4'' to 6" deep, now when I drive by those same curbs the topsoil growth is unreal! The topsoil is several inches above the concrete curbs and the sidewalks, so getting the old stuff out of them at 10" deep or more makes it even a greater challenge. So, I just gave up on the curbs.
Mark
with more drug users and more crime people are even more cautious and the same street now generally has more late night traffic.
Hunting curbs with permission from the city isn't a fix or a cure for the real problem, its the property owners, No! your not breaking the law, but the police will respond to the complaint. In doing so they will not try to calm the property owner down and try to get them to give in to our want to hunt that section of the curb, nor will they likely tell you you can't hunt the curbs, they just tell you it would be best to move on somewhere else.
Now, if you can get permission from the property owner to hunt the curb then there is no complaint made, the police don't come and all is well.
They're is a number of reasons why I don't go curbing any more, here our a few,
Its not real safe to hunt in the middle of the night anymore (At one time I never felt in any danger).
trouble with the property owners running me off.
here is maybe the main reason, in the 1980's the silver and the other good old coins were running 4'' to 6" deep, now when I drive by those same curbs the topsoil growth is unreal! The topsoil is several inches above the concrete curbs and the sidewalks, so getting the old stuff out of them at 10" deep or more makes it even a greater challenge. So, I just gave up on the curbs.
Mark
Had something similar happen back in the 70's with a public playground. City parks maintenance worker spreading aluminum pellets all over the place, saw him dipping into a 5 gallon pail, thought it was grass seed:veryangry: when we hunted the next day, that is when we started finding the "pellets" all over the place. Back then, my Compass Yukon 94B could not tune those out, neither could my buddy's White's metal or mineral with the 4 DB coil detector. I don't think the S.O.B. is alive anymore, he had to be in his 70's back then. We have been back to this park in the past with newer machines ( and yes the pellets) are still there, but not bothersome
And yes, the park is loaded with silver coins. Occaisionally I find those same kind of "pellets" in other city parks in other cities, they usually are quite deep (7 inches or more), sometimes I wonder "was this standard protocol" amongst park workers? Another thing I have come across, in wood chip tot lots. Don't think it was accidental though. Someone had great pleasure in feeding aluminum cans into the chipper with the branches
There are Super can slaw pieces everywhere! ..........NGE
And yes, the park is loaded with silver coins. Occaisionally I find those same kind of "pellets" in other city parks in other cities, they usually are quite deep (7 inches or more), sometimes I wonder "was this standard protocol" amongst park workers? Another thing I have come across, in wood chip tot lots. Don't think it was accidental though. Someone had great pleasure in feeding aluminum cans into the chipper with the branches There are Super can slaw pieces everywhere! ..........NGE