detector was confiscated

[blacksambellamy]

Im so disappointed with this whole matter but i also don't want any problems. I know as a law enforcement officer we have discretion and that's what makes a good cop from a bad one. Other cops i work with say no mercy when writing tickets and that so wrong. With the stroke of a pen you can place someone in financial ruin and for the most part a verbal warning works best. Maybe this is why this situation hurts me so bad because i know what i would have done.




1- I found a drone in the woods without the use of a metal detector.

2- I advised them immediately of my find and offered to bring it to them .

3- They catch me on the beach months later with a detector, fine and confiscate my gear.

4- Then they offer to downgrade the summons if i return the plane.

5- Whats wrong with this picture i offered it to them when i found it

 

[blacksambellamy]

if you have never seen my website this was the last paragraph written about the plane. These rangers have read my website and still treated me this way....crazy

Through my research and the use of this website people can now know the Camp Wellfleet story. My ultimate goal will be to raise enough money for a small museum to be constructed on National Seashore property to display Camp Wellfleet artifacts and tell the forgotten stories of the men and women who served there.
Thanks for visiting,
Steve Klink

 

[Beefcake]

That's one messed up situation... I applaud your honesty for sharing this... I'm sure it was embarrassing and you could have just gone through it silently... I had my first run in with law enforcement while mding a few weeks ago with Okiedigger. We decided (not wisely) to detect the town square. The mayor must not have had anything better to do but stare out his window, but we were only there for 5 minutes when a policeman pulled up and told us to stop what we were doing. We stopped, then he said the mayor wants all of our finds... we offered him some pulltabs and canslaw, so the officer said forget it. He said that mding was not allowed on any public property and in the parks (I've looked and looked, but have never been able to find a single law, rule, or ordinance regarding mding). I told him that I had asked a police officer that I worked with, and he said it was the mayors decision. I said that I knew of no ordinance for metal detecting in the parks, which I've done numerous times, and he said that you could metal detect, you just couldn't dig.????... so I was fuming at this point, which Okie could probably attest to. Not because of the Policeman, but because I believe that the Idiot Mayor is making up rules as he goes. I don't have a problem with following the rules, and in retrospect It was a boneheaded move to detect the square, but I like to see things in writing rather than the mayor trying to play Barney Fife... I still get angry thinking about it... I guess no one needed married that day! As far as your situation, it almost seems like a bit of entrapment is going on there... They had several opportunities to inform you of wrongdoing, they knew who you are, and seemed to have all thier ducks in a row (a little too much in a row). Your situation could have been resolved with a simple request by email or phone, and it would have been alot less embarrassing. Good luck!

 

[blacksambellamy]

I guess sooner or later we all have a run in with someone thats why i prefer to hut underwater. I agree it looks a tad like i was set up but im dealing with the government and the bottom line is how far do i want to push the issue.

Im sure the media would love my story. Just think of Todays environment with the war and all.... how would it look if it were known that a metal detectorist was being bullied around by the government for mailing WW2 veterans pieces of their past. Not only that this detectorist went on to open up a website dedicated to these men and received emails like this.

(I mailed this veteran a package of artifacts and received this email)



Steve,

I received the package today. Thank you again very much. When I left Cape Cod the last time in 1955 I planned to come back someday. I never did. I didn't think that Cape Cod would come to me!

I talked to my son about the artifacts to be certain that they will have a suitable home when they blow Taps for me.

I have some things that I had planned to give to the museum at Fort Bliss, Texas. Almost all Air Defense guys took their training there. Some people are trying to build a military museum in Houston. I will look it over before giving them anything.

Thank you.

Victor

 

[PocketChange]

I'm from MA and detect down the Cape quite regularly, and it's pretty common knowledge that the National Seashore is off limits. So I'm not surprised that your metal detector was confiscated. I am surprised however
that they specifically asked for the plane and that they would reduce the terms of the infraction? They can just demand that you turn over everything recovered from the national seashore boundaries and still keep your metal detector and still fine you and it wouldn't even create the sticky situation that Carol refers too. If they are willing to work with you, I would do it and hope everything works out for the best. As you mentioned that you are in law enforcement you probably already know this anyways.


good luck and hope it works out for you.
I also hope that it does not create a negative view on metal detectors causing even more regulations.

 

[Beefcake]

As with my situation.. I could have easily written a letter to the editor about the situation, but I'd rather it just disappear... I think if it were brought to public attention.. next thing you know there will be a rule, regulation, or ordinance against detecting completely... At least with the situation I have here, the police usually just wave at me... Just need to stay out of window shot of the mayor. I agree, you should take what deal they give you... You will never win against the Government. Count your lucky stars they didn't go for everything.

 

[blacksambellamy]

yup, i agree thats why they can keep my detector it's cheaper in the long run for me to buy another one. The reason i posted here is so people will learn from my mistake. Even if your heart is in the right place you will still get in trouble.

 

[Beefcake]

Well, it sounds like you will get your detector back when you return the drone... Hopefully it will all be forgotten and chalked up as a lesson learned the hard way. Which one did they confiscate?

 

[blacksambellamy]

No he pretty much said he didnt think i will get it back. They took the PI pro. Im just happy i didnt have my JW fisher pulse 8x thats a 2k machine. The PI pro i bought on ebay for $400.00

 

[Beefcake]

Yup.... lick your wounds and call it a day... sorry about the loss.

 

[Mycirus]

I just came across this. What ever happened?

 

[JBEXPRESS]

IDK, I was reading through and also want to know the out come.

 

[ewemule]

Plane ?

How did you get it home ? Is it big ? I say keep it 'til you get your detector in your hands. If they wanted it that bad they'd beat down your door and take it.
Marty

 

[JBEXPRESS]

How did you get it home ? Is it big ? I say keep it 'til you get your detector in your hands. If they wanted it that bad they'd beat down your door and take it.
Marty

The thing is that this happened almost 2 years ago with no ending. I wish someone knew what happened.

 

[JCMO]

Man that would be one long boring stakeout waiting for you to show up and go md'ind.

I bet you brought attention to youself enough with the email that all the rangers in that area were put on special notice to enforce the law on all metal detcting in the National Park. That's the law, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

They actually write in those laws "confiscation of equipment" too.

As for the plane, seems to be a secondary issue.

 

[erikk]

You can thank Ted Kennedy (now departed) for creating this nightmare. Back in the early 60 I detected there, camped with dune buggys and fished and had a wonderful time. Guess old TK was afraid someone would dig up some of his old bottles so they made it as national seashore

 

[Mycirus]

I dont get the logic. They will let people drive on the beach and camp there but you cant metal detect. What if I took my scoop there and just started digging and sifting? Then what?

 

[h20hawgs]

They will strong arm you to get what they want...

 

[Michigan Badger]

Can you post any pictures of the plane you found?

Too bad you couldn't keep it. Unless I miss my guess that thing would be worth some serious money to the right collectors. People pay hundreds of dollars for a whole lot less.

I know financial gain wasn't what you were after. Like most entering this hobby today you greatly misunderstood it. Indiana Jones is a pretend character and as far from the real world as one can get. There are no mavericks out there doing their own thing to benefit society. Any good that will be accepted must be done not only legally but it must also be acceptable to the strongest forces in that society.

Here's a wild pretend example for the purpose of illustration:
One might find some remains proving the people today known as "Native American" weren't really the first people to "own" this continent. While that discovery might be legal it would most definitely not be popular and would probably bring the discoverer more grief than he or she could possibly imagine.

No, in this metal detecting hobby as it has come down to us today we're not a bunch of Indiana Jones or Benjamin Franklin Gates types. We're part time treasure hunters. Many of us love history too but treasure is our main goal.

To find treasure consistently it's very difficult to always be 100% pure with no sin. Any time any of us hunts a site without permission from those who have the right to grant permission we're stealing or at least in violation of the law.

Have you ever just stopped by a roadside site for a quick little hunt? This sort of thing happens thousands of times every day. And yes, it's illegal.

If one wants to do great things for society then one must play the game their way. Everything must be done within the law plus it must also be politically correct.

That doesn't, for the most part, at all describe our hobby as it really is (getting away from the pretend world).

I just thought it was time somebody told it like it really is.

Badger

 

[Cfmct]

This member hasn't been here in 2 years...I believe he was hunting on the Cape Cod National Seahore where metal detecting is banned...