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This Hobby and Police Harassment :wacko:
- Thread starter AngelicStorm
- Start date
Awhile back I was in a park here in San Diego that is a PUBLIC park but has a lot of history to it. I work in a crime related field so I want to keep my day job. I always research the rules and regulations so I was good to go in this park. I found an item that I thought was an interesting old relic. I CALLED the Park Admin office and as soon as I mentioned I found something in that park the voice on the other end began with "That is a felony"......I responded with "sir if I thought I had committed a crime why would I be calling you to relinquish the item". We became buddies and he has given me access to places others might not get into. I think he figured that I was honest so..... On another note here is a tip: I love detecting on the city owned sidewalk strips. My buddies and I will not generally detect if the owner of the house is keeping that part nicely coiffed but if it's weedy or just dirt we go for it. A detective told me to wear a safety vest and ever since I bought one and wear it folks think I am a city worker and checking the water meter etc. and they do not bother me! The several law officials I have asked opinions of say that unless there is signage that specifically states" NO TRESSPASSING, VIOLATERS WILL BE PROSECUTED" that that if a cop rolls up the best they can do is ask you to leave. If you return that will result in a different ending!
I had a county cop that is assigned to a local park tell me one time if I don't turn in the jewelery I find and he catches me with any he was going to charge me with possession of stolen property! And told me that sprinkled with a line of profanity mixed in,I calmly asked if my silver coins had to be turned in as well with a smile on my face and I guess that was too much...he stuttered and repeated his profanity laced sentence about the jewelery and pulled off...I guess there was a shortage of elderly lady's that day that he has a history of verbally abusing so he chose me to mess with,next time it will be him as a defendant in court! If I go anywhere diggin anymore I always have my pivothead glasses ready to record!
EtracTom-AdirondacksNY
New member
I was hunting in a town park very small basically a traffic circle type park. They have what they call Sandy Hill Days there in the town after labor day. Open drinking and flea market vendors and food sellers and carnies etc. all over the place. I'm thinking dropped newer coins in the grass free for the taking. So I go on Sat. and do half the park no one bothered me even though a couple town cops drove by. I was wearing a hoodie flannel type shirt/jacket older with elbow holes and some rips in it. Found my first V nickel so warn thought it was an electrical type plug from fuse box almost threw it away. Had a good day so went back on Sun. to do the other half. First hit was deep and took a while to retrieve and was an Indian head penny yeah! Short time later after about an hour or so almost done and I get the feeling someone is watching me and I just retrieved a screw soda cap and put in my trash pouch and closed and stoodup to step on the plug and see a city cop young guy looking at me and he says what did you find so I tell him trash and show him. Now in the blink of an eye his demeanor changed to mean and belts out do you have oermissino to be here? So I say from whom this is a public taxpayer park and I'm a tax paying citizen and I have also see over the years others detecting here so who do I need and why permission from. Then I ask who called you guys and he kind of beats around the bush and finally says a town father or elder or some such leaving church across the street call me in. So I said to him are you here to ask me to leave or are you here telling me I have to leave and he didn't know how to respond so he says he'll have to check at the police station and may be back. He asked how much I had done so I said all the other side yesterday with no one bothered and almost most all this side today and I'm sure he say how careful and using a rag for the dirt so no evidence left to any digging I've not had any problems yet. He never came back and I hurried up to finish in case I might not get another chance to finish this spot.
Couple other times been accosted buy town police. One stopped me asked for Id as I was just going to leave a curb strip after 9/11 things have been different detecting in the public eyes. Lady whose house I was in front of must have called in. Her curb strip spot was all dirt no grass so what's the problem. Cop asked what I was doing and I said the 25 foot right of way city owned curb right of way I was metal detecting and I was just leaving. He said have a nice day and he will go talk to her about it. Funny thing was I asked her husband a while back to hunt the house yard as it's a colonial home and he said sure was ok. I never went back.
Another 2 times I was retrieving a coin from a plug hole with the dirt on a rag and a cop (older guys) comes over and I didn't see them till they with their foot are kicking the dirt back into the hole about hurting my fingers down there too. I stand up quick like and say hey what gives and the guy sticks his badge in my face and says get on out of here. I said I didn't see any signs saying no detecting there and he says he's telling no. I argue for a very short bit but wasn't going to win so he got me flustered I locked my keys in the truck and asked since he was a cop for help and he told me tough luck. I went over across the street and asked at city hall for help and got a coat hanger to get my keys out but no one heard of not being able to detect in the park so I told them what had happened.
The other time the guy police kicks the dirt into the hole with my hands busy down there getting the coin and says he don't want any holes there. Said he didn't care if I dug on the beach area but not in the grass area. I said I didn't dig a hole for no reason and didn't just leave them open for no reason and said to watch and see this is how we retrieve our detected targets. After pouring the dirt back in and closing the plug and stepping on it I said show me where I just dug. He couldn't then asked where else I had been and I said all this area and does he see any holes and he doesn't and just repeats again about not wanting holes so I say I've been there for over 2 hours and there aren't any holes so he starts to slowly leave. I just kept right on detecting as there isn't any law there at the lake beach areas about detecting. I found a 1875 seated dime in that grassy area earlier that morning so I didn't want to leave just yet.
Another time at a school over the summer in front very small grassy areas on Sat then Sun I was detecting and was finding silver and v nickels and buffalo's and indian head pennys. See a black car pull up it's lightly misty out one woman goes into the school seems she's in there for a while. Little while later get the feeling someone is watching me so I look and right behind me is the other older woman and she says I just saw what you did. So I say what is it I did and she says you know what you just did. So again I say what did I do. Then she says do I have permission to be there and I say whose permission do I need it's a public taxpayer school property and now I'm starting to get mad so I light into her a bit and said I got permission from my mommy and daddy ( I'm in my 50's) I've been doing this for years all over the town and never been so bothered by someone till now for doing nothing illegal. So I tell her to go before I call the cops for her hasseling me so she goes away. Little while later a young cop pulls up and he knows me from seeing me around town detecting and was friendly always but did take my name and info this time said she called them complaining so they had to check it out. Little bit after he leaves a guy pulls up and blocks me so I can't pull out my truck and I was putting my detector away in the back crew cab door of the truck and he's right behind me peering right over my shoulder into my truck looking at all my equipment so I tell him to back off. He has something to do with the school and is one of the town wardsman for that district. He says he got a call someone was over here RIPPING UP THE SOD. I say what did he just say so he asks me if I'm here ripping up the sod? So I said is that what you were looking for in my truck to see if I'm stealing sod somehow? He just repeats the same thing so I said no I'm not and to look behind him does he see any sod missing anywhere? He says no but he got a call from a lady saying someone was here ripping up the sod. Tells me to leave and never come back or he will have me arrested. I said arrested for what he didn't answer. I said I was just leaving till he blocked me in and I'm about to just call the cop back who was just here to say I'm being harassed by him so he better move his vehicle so I could leave. I never went back as I cleaned that out over the 2 days anyways. I may revisit there many years from now though some of these same spots.
Couple other times been accosted buy town police. One stopped me asked for Id as I was just going to leave a curb strip after 9/11 things have been different detecting in the public eyes. Lady whose house I was in front of must have called in. Her curb strip spot was all dirt no grass so what's the problem. Cop asked what I was doing and I said the 25 foot right of way city owned curb right of way I was metal detecting and I was just leaving. He said have a nice day and he will go talk to her about it. Funny thing was I asked her husband a while back to hunt the house yard as it's a colonial home and he said sure was ok. I never went back.
Another 2 times I was retrieving a coin from a plug hole with the dirt on a rag and a cop (older guys) comes over and I didn't see them till they with their foot are kicking the dirt back into the hole about hurting my fingers down there too. I stand up quick like and say hey what gives and the guy sticks his badge in my face and says get on out of here. I said I didn't see any signs saying no detecting there and he says he's telling no. I argue for a very short bit but wasn't going to win so he got me flustered I locked my keys in the truck and asked since he was a cop for help and he told me tough luck. I went over across the street and asked at city hall for help and got a coat hanger to get my keys out but no one heard of not being able to detect in the park so I told them what had happened.
The other time the guy police kicks the dirt into the hole with my hands busy down there getting the coin and says he don't want any holes there. Said he didn't care if I dug on the beach area but not in the grass area. I said I didn't dig a hole for no reason and didn't just leave them open for no reason and said to watch and see this is how we retrieve our detected targets. After pouring the dirt back in and closing the plug and stepping on it I said show me where I just dug. He couldn't then asked where else I had been and I said all this area and does he see any holes and he doesn't and just repeats again about not wanting holes so I say I've been there for over 2 hours and there aren't any holes so he starts to slowly leave. I just kept right on detecting as there isn't any law there at the lake beach areas about detecting. I found a 1875 seated dime in that grassy area earlier that morning so I didn't want to leave just yet.
Another time at a school over the summer in front very small grassy areas on Sat then Sun I was detecting and was finding silver and v nickels and buffalo's and indian head pennys. See a black car pull up it's lightly misty out one woman goes into the school seems she's in there for a while. Little while later get the feeling someone is watching me so I look and right behind me is the other older woman and she says I just saw what you did. So I say what is it I did and she says you know what you just did. So again I say what did I do. Then she says do I have permission to be there and I say whose permission do I need it's a public taxpayer school property and now I'm starting to get mad so I light into her a bit and said I got permission from my mommy and daddy ( I'm in my 50's) I've been doing this for years all over the town and never been so bothered by someone till now for doing nothing illegal. So I tell her to go before I call the cops for her hasseling me so she goes away. Little while later a young cop pulls up and he knows me from seeing me around town detecting and was friendly always but did take my name and info this time said she called them complaining so they had to check it out. Little bit after he leaves a guy pulls up and blocks me so I can't pull out my truck and I was putting my detector away in the back crew cab door of the truck and he's right behind me peering right over my shoulder into my truck looking at all my equipment so I tell him to back off. He has something to do with the school and is one of the town wardsman for that district. He says he got a call someone was over here RIPPING UP THE SOD. I say what did he just say so he asks me if I'm here ripping up the sod? So I said is that what you were looking for in my truck to see if I'm stealing sod somehow? He just repeats the same thing so I said no I'm not and to look behind him does he see any sod missing anywhere? He says no but he got a call from a lady saying someone was here ripping up the sod. Tells me to leave and never come back or he will have me arrested. I said arrested for what he didn't answer. I said I was just leaving till he blocked me in and I'm about to just call the cop back who was just here to say I'm being harassed by him so he better move his vehicle so I could leave. I never went back as I cleaned that out over the 2 days anyways. I may revisit there many years from now though some of these same spots.
I been detecting for a very long time and I have my fair share of run-in with the police or sheriff especially in small town. My experience are similar to what most of you have encountered.
One of you posted describing about seeing shoes while plugging, I had the exact same experience in Clinton, Missouri.
I was putting a plug back in the hole so I was down on my knee packing in the plug with my palm. Then there're these two shiny black shoes that stomped right next to my plug where my hand was pressing on it. I knew by the way the shoes was nicely polished that it was going to be attached to a badge when I looked up.
Yupper It was the sheriff, He started screaming his lungs off asking me what I was doing. (I am really literally Deaf so I am sure he been screaming while walking toward to me trying to get my attention) . I signed to him in sign language "Hey man save your breath I am Deaf but I can lip read some."
Then I told him I was enjoying my hobby detecting and the sheriff told me fine you can detect here but no digging allowed and if I was to dig again he going to arrest me and he left. I walked back to my truck and I can see him circling around in his car like a vulture so I left town and went to the next town.
One small town called Nevada, Missouri. I was detecting there one day and never detected in that town before. So I found a nice public park that seem to be same age as the town itself and started detecting in it. A sheriff came up behind me and kind of pushed me on my back shoulder (Again I am sure he was screaming his head off not realizing I am Deaf and it not doing him any good) to get my attention.
I used sign language to show that I am Deaf and I am just enjoying my hobby. He told me to leave now and I said okay I will move and find another place to hunt. Then he said no get the hell out of "his" town and if he catch me hunting anywhere else in "his" town that he going to take my ass to jail.
Well dang it seem my Deafness only frustrated them cops
Both occurrence happened over 20 years ago but I have many similar occurrence like this over my years of detecting with varies of different civil workers who think they are above the laws. Even a park ground keeper.
Bill
One of you posted describing about seeing shoes while plugging, I had the exact same experience in Clinton, Missouri.
I was putting a plug back in the hole so I was down on my knee packing in the plug with my palm. Then there're these two shiny black shoes that stomped right next to my plug where my hand was pressing on it. I knew by the way the shoes was nicely polished that it was going to be attached to a badge when I looked up.
Yupper It was the sheriff, He started screaming his lungs off asking me what I was doing. (I am really literally Deaf so I am sure he been screaming while walking toward to me trying to get my attention) . I signed to him in sign language "Hey man save your breath I am Deaf but I can lip read some."
Then I told him I was enjoying my hobby detecting and the sheriff told me fine you can detect here but no digging allowed and if I was to dig again he going to arrest me and he left. I walked back to my truck and I can see him circling around in his car like a vulture so I left town and went to the next town.
One small town called Nevada, Missouri. I was detecting there one day and never detected in that town before. So I found a nice public park that seem to be same age as the town itself and started detecting in it. A sheriff came up behind me and kind of pushed me on my back shoulder (Again I am sure he was screaming his head off not realizing I am Deaf and it not doing him any good) to get my attention.
I used sign language to show that I am Deaf and I am just enjoying my hobby. He told me to leave now and I said okay I will move and find another place to hunt. Then he said no get the hell out of "his" town and if he catch me hunting anywhere else in "his" town that he going to take my ass to jail.
Well dang it seem my Deafness only frustrated them cops
Both occurrence happened over 20 years ago but I have many similar occurrence like this over my years of detecting with varies of different civil workers who think they are above the laws. Even a park ground keeper.
Bill
EtracTom-AdirondacksNY
New member
I kind of wish I was a lawyer then I would tell the policeman or grounds keeper or whomever to take me to jail and what is the charge and then say I'm a lawyer and now they done messed up and it was going to cost them or the city. Or I would do the same and then say read me my rights and then say I'm going to call my lawyer with my cellphone and this will now get costly and ugly for them and the city because I've done no wrong.
I carry a cellphone with me now even if it's turned off while detecting for just such people hasseling you on occasions to use it to scare them off.
I carry a cellphone with me now even if it's turned off while detecting for just such people hasseling you on occasions to use it to scare them off.
Angelic; I do most all my turf hunting (especially nicely manicured turf) at night. And avoid all lights (pick a full-moon night). And rarely ever am seen.
But one night, I recall my buddies & I emerged from the dark recesses of a park, out to the street to get ready to leave. I got one last signal I wanted to check, right next to the sidewalk, in the glow of the street-light. And as luck would have it, a cop car passed us RIGHT THEN. We saw him out of the corners of our eyes proceed about a half block down more. Then he slows, flips a U-turn, and heads back our way! I thought "oh no, here it comes". But once he stopped at us, and got out to question us, he changed his tune. He explained that he'd seen a "suspicious character" hunched down on the ground. And I suppose when we'd glanced up his way, in an evasive "oh no, did he see us? " type persona, it probably only fueled his curiosity. But after seeing it was only 2 geeks with metal detectors, he got back in his cop car and took off. Bigger fish to fry I guess
But one night, I recall my buddies & I emerged from the dark recesses of a park, out to the street to get ready to leave. I got one last signal I wanted to check, right next to the sidewalk, in the glow of the street-light. And as luck would have it, a cop car passed us RIGHT THEN. We saw him out of the corners of our eyes proceed about a half block down more. Then he slows, flips a U-turn, and heads back our way! I thought "oh no, here it comes". But once he stopped at us, and got out to question us, he changed his tune. He explained that he'd seen a "suspicious character" hunched down on the ground. And I suppose when we'd glanced up his way, in an evasive "oh no, did he see us? " type persona, it probably only fueled his curiosity. But after seeing it was only 2 geeks with metal detectors, he got back in his cop car and took off. Bigger fish to fry I guess
What that cop alluded to, is actually true laws. Every state has them. They're "lost & found" laws. Each state has slightly different thresholds of item-values to the criteria of what applies. Ie.: $100 value or more. Or $200 or more, etc... They were borne out of wandering cattle laws of the 1800s. And they make a lot of sense, when you think of it. Otherwise, what's to stop someone from scooping up cash that spilled out a door that swung open on a Brink Armored car, and saying "finders keepers" ? Of COURSE you can't keep that cash. Or to help yourself to someone's bicycle parked outside a store saying "I found it", etc...
This is why every md'r I know, including myself, dutifully turns in all the rings I've ever found to police lost & found depts. Ok, now go do the right thing, and make us all proud !
This is why every md'r I know, including myself, dutifully turns in all the rings I've ever found to police lost & found depts. Ok, now go do the right thing, and make us all proud !
BartOscar said:
This is a good reason to "think twice" about showing city officials what you're finding. There are a LOT of times where we md'rs are viewed as harmless geeks to passerbys. But all that changes when someone gets wind of the fact you might actually be finding something good, historic, valuable, etc... All-of-the-sudden their attitude changes, and the wheels of their brain start turning. Hence, the less people think of me and my hobby, the better
Johnnyanglo
Active member
Otherwise, what's to stop someone from scooping up cash that spilled out a door that swung open on a Brink Armored car, and saying "finders keepers" ?
Opps! My bad.
If only I'd known.
Opps! My bad.
If only I'd known.
electricmetal21
New member
The way I see it, when that old lady gave you permission to hunt, she thought, big deal, he's just going to be finding junk..
Then, when she watched you hunt, she thought she saw you find something valuable and changed her mind about letting you hunt the property.
She wanted to tell you to leave. But, she didn't have the courage to tell you to leave. So, she called the cops and let them do the dirty work for her.
Then, when she watched you hunt, she thought she saw you find something valuable and changed her mind about letting you hunt the property.
She wanted to tell you to leave. But, she didn't have the courage to tell you to leave. So, she called the cops and let them do the dirty work for her.
AngelicStorm
New member
Sorry for the late response. Here is how I can relate to some of the responses on this controversial topic.....
I agree with your ideology 100%. I have been metal detecting some years now and what you say makes plenty of sense. Depending on your area things may change, but according to experience I have learnt that the less people know the less harm they can do. There has been a few incidents where I have been hunting in the broad open daylight people bother me where otherwise at night time people would have not done the same. Every time I have been in such situations it was always somewhere I either had permission or in a public place where there should not have been a problem law wise. No, I am not promoting this because chances are there are some people who like to take advantage of less people being aware and commit trespassing crimes on up. Like Tom said, "the less people think of me and my hobby, the better." Just remember if you are going to go at night, be responsible, abide by the law, and stay safe. Also, be respectful of the people and property you are hunting. If they do not want you hunting the property at night, be courteous and go somewhere else. You do want to keep your permission and not get in trouble right?
The other thing I can relate to is how people's wheels start turning when they think you are finding something. There has been times where people on the street and/or the property owners pupils turn to dollar bills right in front of me. At times all it took was for me to dig a hole or holes with nothing rewarding inside of them and other times they would be looming over me waiting. A couple of the few times I have had the owners looming over me waiting for something to come out, I have pulled out rings with no real way to hide my finds from their eyes. One of the times I got caught with a small silver ring. A very old ring with small rubies in it. She "the owner" immediately claimed it was hers and that she lost it. I then proved it did not fit her and persuaded her the ring was probably much older than her. She then thought about it for a bit and gave up on the claim agreeing with me. If only you guys could see the money signs in her eyes. Now do not get me wrong. If there even remotely seems that such a ring belonged to the owner standing near or even if they are not around, I may be enticed to return it to them just to do the right thing. This time it was obvious I was being lead in the wrong direction and had to say something. Ultimately though if they want to claim it they can because it came off their property. So if she still wanted it even if I knew she was lying, I still would have had to hand it over.
It is always good to research a property before attempting to go on it to detect. It seems lots of people are not very aware of laws and ordinances involving sidewalk strips. Although there may not be any laws or ordinances against metal detecting those strips, some property owners tend to think it is theirs and do not want you to hunt it. I have not ran into this but one time and it was involving a judge saying it was okay. His wife came in behind him much later on and said it was not okay. This is why although I have not had any problems with police on this issue, I still try to make sure it is okay with the property owner of the house right in front of the strip. Most people have not gave me a problem about it even if they did not want me to hunt their yards. Now I know you are supposed to be able to hunt those areas around here, but I have contacted the police to ask them what they think of it and they have no issues except for me to ask the person of the property in front of the strip to prevent any issues. The very reason I ask them before hunting the strips. I know this can change drastically from town to town depending on people and laws. It is good for you to check up with your city officials to make sure there are no ordinances or laws against it.
Good point. I may just start using some sort of recording device rigged in some way. Especially if I am alone.
Maybe, either way I consider what she did and how the cop handled it pretty messed up.
Tom_in_CA said:Angelic; I do most all my turf hunting (especially nicely manicured turf) at night. And avoid all lights (pick a full-moon night). And rarely ever am seen.
But one night, I recall my buddies & I emerged from the dark recesses of a park, out to the street to get ready to leave. I got one last signal I wanted to check, right next to the sidewalk, in the glow of the street-light. And as luck would have it, a cop car passed us RIGHT THEN. We saw him out of the corners of our eyes proceed about a half block down more. Then he slows, flips a U-turn, and heads back our way! I thought "oh no, here it comes". But once he stopped at us, and got out to question us, he changed his tune. He explained that he'd seen a "suspicious character" hunched down on the ground. And I suppose when we'd glanced up his way, in an evasive "oh no, did he see us? " type persona, it probably only fueled his curiosity. But after seeing it was only 2 geeks with metal detectors, he got back in his cop car and took off. Bigger fish to fry I guess
Tom_in_CA said:This is a good reason to "think twice" about showing city officials what you're finding. There are a LOT of times where we md'rs are viewed as harmless geeks to passerbys. But all that changes when someone gets wind of the fact you might actually be finding something good, historic, valuable, etc... All-of-the-sudden their attitude changes, and the wheels of their brain start turning. Hence, the less people think of me and my hobby, the better
I agree with your ideology 100%. I have been metal detecting some years now and what you say makes plenty of sense. Depending on your area things may change, but according to experience I have learnt that the less people know the less harm they can do. There has been a few incidents where I have been hunting in the broad open daylight people bother me where otherwise at night time people would have not done the same. Every time I have been in such situations it was always somewhere I either had permission or in a public place where there should not have been a problem law wise. No, I am not promoting this because chances are there are some people who like to take advantage of less people being aware and commit trespassing crimes on up. Like Tom said, "the less people think of me and my hobby, the better." Just remember if you are going to go at night, be responsible, abide by the law, and stay safe. Also, be respectful of the people and property you are hunting. If they do not want you hunting the property at night, be courteous and go somewhere else. You do want to keep your permission and not get in trouble right?
The other thing I can relate to is how people's wheels start turning when they think you are finding something. There has been times where people on the street and/or the property owners pupils turn to dollar bills right in front of me. At times all it took was for me to dig a hole or holes with nothing rewarding inside of them and other times they would be looming over me waiting. A couple of the few times I have had the owners looming over me waiting for something to come out, I have pulled out rings with no real way to hide my finds from their eyes. One of the times I got caught with a small silver ring. A very old ring with small rubies in it. She "the owner" immediately claimed it was hers and that she lost it. I then proved it did not fit her and persuaded her the ring was probably much older than her. She then thought about it for a bit and gave up on the claim agreeing with me. If only you guys could see the money signs in her eyes. Now do not get me wrong. If there even remotely seems that such a ring belonged to the owner standing near or even if they are not around, I may be enticed to return it to them just to do the right thing. This time it was obvious I was being lead in the wrong direction and had to say something. Ultimately though if they want to claim it they can because it came off their property. So if she still wanted it even if I knew she was lying, I still would have had to hand it over.
BartOscar said:
It is always good to research a property before attempting to go on it to detect. It seems lots of people are not very aware of laws and ordinances involving sidewalk strips. Although there may not be any laws or ordinances against metal detecting those strips, some property owners tend to think it is theirs and do not want you to hunt it. I have not ran into this but one time and it was involving a judge saying it was okay. His wife came in behind him much later on and said it was not okay. This is why although I have not had any problems with police on this issue, I still try to make sure it is okay with the property owner of the house right in front of the strip. Most people have not gave me a problem about it even if they did not want me to hunt their yards. Now I know you are supposed to be able to hunt those areas around here, but I have contacted the police to ask them what they think of it and they have no issues except for me to ask the person of the property in front of the strip to prevent any issues. The very reason I ask them before hunting the strips. I know this can change drastically from town to town depending on people and laws. It is good for you to check up with your city officials to make sure there are no ordinances or laws against it.
Johnnyanglo said:
Good point. I may just start using some sort of recording device rigged in some way. Especially if I am alone. electricmetal21 said:
Maybe, either way I consider what she did and how the cop handled it pretty messed up.
I agree wit KINTN and others... Most cops are good, couple bad ones here and there. Anyway, I also don't subscribe to getting "in writing" or recording permission. To me, that's putting too much into an isolated incident. Additionally, I believe that many folks that are willing to give a simple "no problem" and go ahead to being reluctant to "signing a piece of paper". I would hate for that to become a new law and have to ask for it... Nevertheless, I love the hobby and do it as a hobby and truly appreciate it when people give me permission to look on their property. I include them in my findings and always offer up anything I find out of appreciation. To date, after 10 hears of metal detecting, no one has ever taking anything that I have found on their property and I am invited back to every location I have detected. MY POINT, I just want to keep it simple. IT WORKS for me. Secondly, I have been asked to leave a park because they did not allow "digging in the park" though I was using a lesche hand knife and no posted signs. Could I have made an issue and debated... yep, probably so. But, its a hobby, I do it for enjoyment, and creating a stir could bring about a bad reputation for my hobby. A couple of years from now, maybe nothing will be said for metal detecting in the park and this will be possible because "it didn't get posted because I challenged" the park ranger.
Lastly, I have to say, I did have a park ranger approach me one day (another park HA) and thanked me for doing a good job not leaving signs that I had been digging.
Just my thoughts, sorry for the situation you encountered. Tough situation for sure. GL HH
Lastly, I have to say, I did have a park ranger approach me one day (another park HA) and thanked me for doing a good job not leaving signs that I had been digging.
Just my thoughts, sorry for the situation you encountered. Tough situation for sure. GL HH
AngelicStorm
New member
Yes and thanks, valid point, but there can be many outcomes to many situations. It is better to be prepared for them. Based on what people have said and reads from around the net, it is far to common that unnecessary incidents such as this one to occur. I am not the only one. Rather they are an official or whatever there is a right and wrong. There are really a lot of factors involving how these things arise. People are all different and there is no telling who you could run up on no matter how professional or nice you are. Just do what's right and from my experience the desired experience will come. It will not always be perfect. Again, all we can do is compile the advice from others and use it to be prepared for such situations. This particular one was a bit harder to predict though. I am sure there has been worse and more unpredictable situations happen to other people. I am able to move on and knock on the next door. Just with a bit more precaution. I love this hobby and get plenty of enjoyment out of it. 
I was in a city park just last Saturday and a ranger approached me. He gave me what is probably his standard short lecture. He told me he best not see any "foot prints" and then when on to tell me how many holes he discovers and some of the folks that make them. Like anything else in life....there are always those that ruin it for everyone else! No one can reinforce enough that if we want to continue this hobby in some cool places we do have to abide by the laws and COVER OUR HOLES!!!!! I am dumbfounded when I see gaping holes and the grass all torn up. It takes less time to cover and press on the area then to dig the hole!