Seattle municipal codes interpretation, re: metal detecting

[Rain Dog]

So, last week I emailed the Seattle Parks Department about regulations/laws regarding metal detecting in city parks. I was curious if I needed a permit. This is the reply I received:

"Although there's no prohibition of metal detecting per se, Seattle Municipal Code 18.12.070 prohibits anyone from removing (or destroying, mutilating, or defacing) pretty much anything found in a park. We tell people who are interested in metal detecting that digging in loose sand at a beach would be no problem, provided there's no vegetation there (at Golden Gardens, for instance, there is beach vegetation that has been painstakingly restored), but that we wouldn't want any digging in turf or other kinds of ground."

However, the relevant portion (section B) of SMC 18.12.070 states only: "It is unlawful for any person except a duly authorized Department of Parks and Recreation or other City employee in the performance of his or her duties, or other person duly authorized pursuant to law, to remove, destroy,
mutilate or deface any structure, lawn, monument, statue, vase, fountain, wall, fence, railing, vehicle, bench, shrub, tree, geological formation, plant, flower, lighting system, sprinkling system, gate, barricade or lock or other property lawfully in any park, or to remove sand, soil, or sod in any park."

By my interpretation, this doesn't by any means prohibit metal detection and target recovery in Seattle parks--unless one automatically assumes metal detecting to be a "mutilating, defacing" endeavor, or that cutting a plug and pocketing what one finds is equivalent to "removing sand, soil or sod...," especially if what one finds/removes is not a "natural" part of the park, but essentially someone else's "garbage" or lost article...

Thoughts?

 

[ATLfun]

If it is not strictly prohibited then give it shot, IMO. Yes, they are correct that metal detecting would fall under their general park protection clause. A general park protection clause would be the cited source for a park's metal detecting policy. As we all know, all policies are flexible depending upon the person you are dealing with.

Since you can search the beach, go visit and explore other areas. If you are asked to stop then stop. Failure to stop is what leads to giant brown/green signs that strictly prohibit metal detecting.

Your mileage may vary,


Brian

 

[Captain Silver]

You messed up when you asked them in the first place...

 

[Musketman]

I'll bet you can remove a target without "removing, destroying, or mutilating" the grass. Just be as clean as possible and deal with the issue when someone has an issue with you.
If this state we live in had it's way, we would just pay our taxes for parks and stay home where we belong.
Just be responsible and if that isn't good enough then hand back all the pull tabs, bottle caps, and can slaw to the jackwagon who tells you you can't be there.

 

[joee5]

If no signs were posted saying you couldnt, then you should have hunted until you were told otherwise. I wouldnt have asked, I would have just did.

 

[Milhaus]

Are you associated with a club? They need to feel confident that when they say yes that they won't run into problems or get into trouble for giving permission. If a club agrees to completely restore everything they use without destroying any vegetation then they might have a chance of getting people on their roster the permission they need.

Then there is the prospect of asking the managers to grant permits that come with an additional agreement to strictly maintain the park and submit their ID to any park personal who request it. This doesn't really cost the park any money, they simply have to create a list with ID or drivers license numbers.

I'm just saying where their is a will and a good attitude there is a way.

 

[sectshun8]

That same wording exists at most any park, anywehre in the US. It's definitely the case with Denver City Parks near me. From what I've heard, using a lesche in them, can cause issues with park personnel. However, just probing with a screwdriver and popping up your targets has come to be sort of a compromise between park officials and hobbyists alike.