The snotty park that hates metal detectors

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High Speed - Low Drag! Rock on with your bad self!!! Stand fast!

 

[Parkeologist]

I Love Your MOXIE!

Hey JoAnn I just joined today and I'm wondering why it took me so long! The reason I joined today was just about 6 hrs ago I was run off my favorite park. A little context this park was the center of town years ago. 180 acres that date back to the 1840's. I've never seen anyone else hunt there and I've been going of and on for a few years. Today I was approached by the infamous white truck with the seal on the door. This old guy said I needed a permit, whats weird is that he said he's been watching me for months as if I he was on a stakeout! So respectfully I mentioned that there wasn't any posted signs and that this was a public park. He grubbed and again said I needed a permit to dig, so I conceded. I walked over to the office he pointed out, this is where it gets funny. The lady at the desk looked at me as if i had a lamp growing out the top of my head when I asked for a permit to MD. She walked to a back room and between the laughs I heard "Why the hell would anyone want to do that?" She then reappeared and said I would have to come back later and talk to the director. I'm so MAD! I know I'm going to get the runaround only to be told to get lost. Thank you for your post I feel better about sticking up for our "addiction" LOL. I'm used to the weird/disapproving looks but on the other side ALOT of people are genuinely curious and do stop to ask from time to time. Those times are great because I can explain that I'm recovering history instead of feeling like a vulture scavenging for dropped treasures. Again great post and keep up the fight. Btw I'm a former Marine and I like the reference below LOL.

 

[Jo ann]

Hey JoAnn I just joined today and I'm wondering why it took me so long! The reason I joined today was just about 6 hrs ago I was run off my favorite park. A little context this park was the center of town years ago. 180 acres that date back to the 1840's. I've never seen anyone else hunt there and I've been going of and on for a few years. Today I was approached by the infamous white truck with the seal on the door. This old guy said I needed a permit, whats weird is that he said he's been watching me for months as if I he was on a stakeout! So respectfully I mentioned that there wasn't any posted signs and that this was a public park. He grubbed and again said I needed a permit to dig, so I conceded. I walked over to the office he pointed out, this is where it gets funny. The lady at the desk looked at me as if i had a lamp growing out the top of my head when I asked for a permit to MD. She walked to a back room and between the laughs I heard "Why the hell would anyone want to do that?" She then reappeared and said I would have to come back later and talk to the director. I'm so MAD! I know I'm going to get the runaround only to be told to get lost. Thank you for your post I feel better about sticking up for our "addiction" LOL. I'm used to the weird/disapproving looks but on the other side ALOT of people are genuinely curious and do stop to ask from time to time. Those times are great because I can explain that I'm recovering history instead of feeling like a vulture scavenging for dropped treasures. Again great post and keep up the fight. Btw I'm a former Marine and I like the reference below LOL.

Yep, you Marines have stares that can kill, no need for amno!
with that said, ty for serving and nice to meet you.

In this new county that Im in we can only use a probe, unless a park allows digs, And there is one park that welcomes that but its a bit far for me, to squeese in on a busy day.

You might want to find out what the regulations are in your area, Im wondering if you have to get a permit to dig there as if you were going to use a backhoe, but I think it is rude the way you where treated by that park and you are probally correct that they will give you the run around.

A few times when people have given me dirty looks, or say something snotty, and I see them lingering some, I actually ask them if they want to try it, if my md isnt muddy, and so far they all have jumped to try it, at that point, me being female and do t leave the house without the kitchen sink, pull out either disinfectant gel or wipes so they can clean up their hands after or I carry a brand new pair of gloves still packaged, also, at my old home, when bugs are bad the kids and moms knew I had bug spray safe for kids or adults and even a small tube of sun screen.
I have found that sad sack hard core adults get as giddy as kids, smiling from ear to ear.
Even have helped tons of tourist.

My point is PR is important until regulars and park official get to know you, even though a lot of the time I prefer to md without interuptions it just isnt possible in this day and age, and also because of past actions of some mders.

I dont know if my neighborhood park here will ever warm up to me, but Im going to continue get my exersize and fresh air.

 

[StBarbara]

You go giiiirrrrrlllll !

 

[Jo ann]

You go giiiirrrrrlllll !

Ty, and welcome to the forum!

 

[khouse]

Hey JoAnn I just joined today and I'm wondering why it took me so long! The reason I joined today was just about 6 hrs ago I was run off my favorite park. A little context this park was the center of town years ago. 180 acres that date back to the 1840's. I've never seen anyone else hunt there and I've been going of and on for a few years. Today I was approached by the infamous white truck with the seal on the door. This old guy said I needed a permit, whats weird is that he said he's been watching me for months as if I he was on a stakeout! So respectfully I mentioned that there wasn't any posted signs and that this was a public park. He grubbed and again said I needed a permit to dig, so I conceded. I walked over to the office he pointed out, this is where it gets funny. The lady at the desk looked at me as if i had a lamp growing out the top of my head when I asked for a permit to MD. She walked to a back room and between the laughs I heard "Why the hell would anyone want to do that?" She then reappeared and said I would have to come back later and talk to the director. I'm so MAD! I know I'm going to get the runaround only to be told to get lost. Thank you for your post I feel better about sticking up for our "addiction" LOL. I'm used to the weird/disapproving looks but on the other side ALOT of people are genuinely curious and do stop to ask from time to time. Those times are great because I can explain that I'm recovering history instead of feeling like a vulture scavenging for dropped treasures. Again great post and keep up the fight. Btw I'm a former Marine and I like the reference below LOL.

I looked on the web and there are no rules posted. All I see is special use permit apps for carnivals and such. No mention of detecting. Go back in and simply ask for the park rules and regulations. It will say if you need a permit to detect. If it does then apply. If not then carry the rules with you while you detect. Then hand them to the man in the white truck if he comes up for a visit.

 

[GLASSHOPPER1955]

Nice work. It's wise to chase only the shallow stuff (stuff you can pop out with a probe only), while busy-body lookie-lous are watching. After about 15 min. of that they will get bored and go do something else. And THEN you can go after the deeper ones

Or better yet: simply go when no-such park maintenance crews are on-duty.

I do most of my MDing at sunup to about 9 a.m. Sunday mornings mainly. Whenever people start showing up to use the beach or parks (or totlots) I leave. I'm pretty much done by then anyway. If someone is watching, though, I'll turn away from them so they can't see me retrieve a target, and I do it quickly, as to not make it look like a big deal. You are right, though, just avoid the busy times when looky-loos are out and you most likely won't have a problem. I have yet to have anyone say anything. But, then again, some of the park workers by me probably don't even know what a metal detector is anyway...

 

[khouse]

I do most of my MDing at sunup to about 9 a.m. Sunday mornings mainly. Whenever people start showing up to use the beach or parks (or totlots) I leave. I'm pretty much done by then anyway. If someone is watching, though, I'll turn away from them so they can't see me retrieve a target, and I do it quickly, as to not make it look like a big deal. You are right, though, just avoid the busy times when looky-loos are out and you most likely won't have a problem. I have yet to have anyone say anything.

That sounds like me as well. I put my back to onlookers, roads or the people looking out their window on private properties. Just swing around your target until your back blocks viewers. Retrieve your target. Then when you stand up there's nothing to see. Also if there are people to both sides of me I'll mark the target to come back later after people leave the area. But for the most part when people start packing in I leave.

 

[ohiochris]

Good job ! Put them in their place


I wish I could do that in some of the local parks here but they would still get me ,....unfortunately they were thorough enough to include " 1.1 Defacement, Destruction, Removal
No person shall injure, deface, destroy or remove any part of the Park or building, sign, equipment, or other property found therein , nor shall any tree, flower, shrub, or other vegetation, or fruit or seed thereof, rock or stone rip-rap, or mineral be removed, injured, destroyed, or disturbed. (O.R.C. §2909.05) in the rules......and they have used that against me.

 

[GabbityGabby]

The other day, while hunting at one of my most frequent school spots, the janitor came out. I thought, "Oh no, he's going to give me a hard time." But it turned out that he didn't, he was just curious about the hobby. I talked to him a little bit and he had no problem with it. I guess I am lucky I haven't run into anyone who has a problem with detecting yet.

 

[jakerdz]

Good job ! Put them in their place [emoji38]


I wish I could do that in some of the local parks here but they would still get me ,....unfortunately they were thorough enough to include " 1.1 Defacement, Destruction, Removal
No person shall injure, deface, destroy or remove any part of the Park or building, sign, equipment, or other property found therein , nor shall any tree, flower, shrub, or other vegetation, or fruit or seed thereof, rock or stone rip-rap, or mineral be removed, injured, destroyed, or disturbed. (O.R.C. §2909.05) in the rules......and they have used that against me.

That's a fairly common regulation. I tend to ignore the "defacing" or "disturbing" anything rules. If you want to use vague terms then I will interpret them as such.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

....

I wish I could do that in some of the local parks here but they would still get me ,....unfortunately they were thorough enough to include " 1.1 Defacement, Destruction, Removal
No person shall injure, deface, destroy or remove any part of the Park or building, sign, equipment, or other property found therein , nor shall any tree, flower, shrub, or other vegetation, or fruit or seed thereof, rock or stone rip-rap, or mineral be removed, injured, destroyed, or disturbed. (O.R.C. §2909.05) in the rules......and they have used that against me.

I agree with jakerdz on this. I do not interpret those things to automatically mean "no detecting". Because gauranteed: verbage like that (disallowing vandalism, removing, mayhem, disturbing, etc...) exist on EVERY speck of public land. They are just catch-all wording to apply for someone being a nuisance. Therefore I do not start with the premise that those things apply to me. If someone cares to come up and render their intrepretation that it applies, fine. They're more than welcome to alert me .

 

[ohiochris]

I agree with jakerdz on this. I do not interpret those things to automatically mean "no detecting". Because gauranteed: verbage like that (disallowing vandalism, removing, mayhem, disturbing, etc...) exist on EVERY speck of public land. They are just catch-all wording to apply for someone being a nuisance. Therefore I do not start with the premise that those things apply to me. If someone cares to come up and render their intrepretation that it applies, fine. They're more than welcome to alert me .

But thats what I am talking about , they have already alerted me to their interpretation and told me to leave

We can usually keep out of trouble with plausable deniability , playing dumb knowing they arent going to do anything drastic. But with wording describing no collecting or removing property found on premesis , and no damaging or disturbing,.... there is no guesswork involved , they dont even HAVE to interpret that , digging or removing found property is not allowed and its right there in the rules plain as day So you are not talking about the distinction between right and wrong , you are talking about what you can get away with due to a tecnicality....atleast until someone informs you otherwise.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

But thats what I am talking about , they have already alerted me to their interpretation and told me to leave

We can usually keep out of trouble with plausable deniability , playing dumb knowing they arent going to do anything drastic. But with wording describing no collecting or removing property found on premesis , and no damaging or disturbing,.... there is no guesswork involved , they dont even HAVE to interpret that , digging or removing found property is not allowed and its right there in the rules plain as day So you are not talking about the distinction between right and wrong , you are talking about what you can get away with due to a tecnicality....atleast until someone informs you otherwise.

So you're in a pickle right now. In your case, you've been "alerted to this interpretation", doh! So you can either

a) cease all detecting there.

b) just treat it as a "fluke", and be more careful not to run into that one particular busy-body in the future. Or

c) seek to get the city to over-turn this new law, or rule, or interpretation, etc...

The problem with option (c), is it might be hit-the-fan and simply become more ingrained in city people's minds (ie.: the "easy" answer). So .... to expound on option B:

I do not consider isolated individual "scrams" to necessarily constitute new laws, rules, policies, etc.... It's entirely possible you got a singular gardener "having a bad day". Or a cop who was simply responding to someone's call, but ... yet personally, could care less. Yet since he was there, had to justify his call-out, to "satisfy miss lookie-lou". So for a variety of reasons, I do not consider any one particular "scram" to be something that means the place is necessarily off-limits, nor that it's now something that is on-par with law, that must be fought, etc... Sometimes (I hate to say it), it means "avoid that one particular busy-body in the future".

 

[mountain digger]

Good job ! Put them in their place


I wish I could do that in some of the local parks here but they would still get me ,....unfortunately they were thorough enough to include " 1.1 Defacement, Destruction, Removal
No person shall injure, deface, destroy or remove any part of the Park or building, sign, equipment, or other property found therein , nor shall any tree, flower, shrub, or other vegetation, or fruit or seed thereof, rock or stone rip-rap, or mineral be removed, injured, destroyed, or disturbed. (O.R.C. §2909.05) in the rules......and they have used that against me.

But thats what I am talking about , they have already alerted me to their interpretation and told me to leave

We can usually keep out of trouble with plausable deniability , playing dumb knowing they arent going to do anything drastic. But with wording describing no collecting or removing property found on premesis , and no damaging or disturbing,.... there is no guesswork involved , they dont even HAVE to interpret that , digging or removing found property is not allowed and its right there in the rules plain as day So you are not talking about the distinction between right and wrong , you are talking about what you can get away with due to a tecnicality....atleast until someone informs you otherwise.

Hey Ohio,
I really feel for ya. Sounds like THEY have your number. Was this in the same parks where you always sought and got permission to MD? I only ask because I seem to remember you always seek permission to MD on public lands. Here's a thought I'll bring up in the form of another question: What's the difference between real property and personal property?

 

[ohiochris]

Hey Ohio,
I really feel for ya. Sounds like THEY have your number. Was this in the same parks where you always sought and got permission to MD? I only ask because I seem to remember you always seek permission to MD on public lands. Here's a thought I'll bring up in the form of another question: What's the difference between real property and personal property?

Nope , I dont always ask permission to hunt in parks , you have me confused with someone else. I only ask if I am in doubt or have reason to believe they might not want me there. I tried hunting these parks years ago and before I was even aware of the rules. They dont have " MY " number , they have anyone swinging a detector and digging coins number. But your property question dont make sense. The rules in THIS particular case are pretty obvious , only a moron would actually think the rules dont cover what we do. Many places the rules are more vague.

 

[khouse]

Nope , I dont always ask permission to hunt in parks , you have me confused with someone else. I only ask if I am in doubt or have reason to believe they might not want me there. I tried hunting these parks years ago and before I was even aware of the rules. They dont have " MY " number , they have anyone swinging a detector and digging coins number. But your property question dont make sense. The rules in THIS particular case are pretty obvious , only a moron would actually think the rules dont cover what we do. Many places the rules are more vague.

I'm curious about how and who alerted you? What was the complete story?

 

[Dirtfishin]

Jo Ann, I first love how you write, it kept me interested in the story. And second way to go for standing for your rights. Congrats

 

[mountain digger]

Nope , I dont always ask permission to hunt in parks , you have me confused with someone else. I only ask if I am in doubt or have reason to believe they might not want me there. I tried hunting these parks years ago and before I was even aware of the rules. They dont have " MY " number , they have anyone swinging a detector and digging coins number. But your property question dont make sense. The rules in THIS particular case are pretty obvious , only a moron would actually think the rules dont cover what we do. Many places the rules are more vague.

To me, still sounds like they have your number [maybe you're part of the whole problem from their perspective]. You know, one of those MDers.

So you don't know the answer to the difference between 'real and personal property' question then? Try looking it up, it's not difficult. Did you know it would be illegal for you [or any entity] to claim ownership to personal property if it doesn't actually belong to you [or any entity] under existing laws?

Yep, guess I have you confused with someone else...that's got to be it. But, the "only a moron" comment sounds so familiar. Oh well, I'm sure I'm confused.

FYI...I'm over 400 posts now.

 

[Grumpysrb]

Why?

If it is not illegal, just do it, and if they have something to say they can come to you. And if they have a problem with it, why are there holes left by others?