Folks, I need to stress to you to DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. Do NOT rely on any government workers word. If you do I guarantee places you THINK are off limits are actually not.
I have LOTS of experience with this subject as a former officer and all my dealings with the police.
Find a park that is posted. Obey the signs BUT ask questions and permission. I found a totally virgin park in Utah because I ASKED and was never shown the ordinance. I was told there was one but nobody ever showed me the rule in writing. Signs mean nothing if they are just there to scare people digging holes away.
Once you find a rule or law, EXAMINE it closely. Is there a condition? No disturbing plants no removing sod? A screwdriver doesn't do any damage. Easy to use on shallow coins as deep as your index finger. So detect and if you get confronted do not have any digging tool with you and have popping coins with a screwdriver mastered. It isn't hard.
Make business cards on your printer. SHOW people in charge how you retrieve a target. You might find virgin spots that give you a green light. Business cards give people your name and number if they ever have or see a problem. They know you try to be professional in what you do. They can also remember who they gave permission to. I gave one of my underwater ones to the park supervisor in Utah. It worked.
Now for the dangerous stuff. If you feel froggy, politely argue with the police if confronted. HOWEVER with a warning. A disorderly conduct ticket is BROAD. Not giving in to supposed authority could get you a broad ticket that can stick. That would be up to a judge. If you leave a spot and go back later there is no harm in that.
If you do want to explain your rights it is best to have a copy of the law WITH YOU in your vehicle.
Two years ago I was in a lake and diving in a swim area that was roped off. The people that owned the marina told me I could not be in their swim area. I told them they were wrong. The guy asked if I ever heard of riparian rights. I said sure have and you don't have them. I went back under. About a half hour later I heard a BAM BAM BAM. I come up and there is an officer on the dock. He told me I was trespassing. I said "NO, I am not." He said "now that you are standing up I was" I said no. I said this lake has a public boat ramp and a public park on it. Michigan law states ANY lake with public access, anybody owning property on the lake, their property ends at the high water mark. He said he was researching the law while watching me and he THINKS I am right. I told him I was and gave him my background. I also gave him my drivers license number which I have current and memorized.
We had a wonderful talk and he went to educate the owners while I went back to diving.
Last year I had an incident that was not as cordial. I got three citations for sticking up for my rights. Another member on here was told to get out of the water and he did. I had to go to court but in the outcome all three citations were dismissed. Some officers THINK they know the laws BUT also think they have a gun and a badge so they are ALWAYS right. NOT. They were wrong and not only am I allowed to detect where I was, they had better leave me alone this year.
The law concerning the Detroit River:
Sec. 23-2-2. - Swimming and underwater diving; prohibitions.
(a)
A person shall not swim, bathe, or engage in underwater diving operations outside of buoyed and designated swim areas, except when authorized by the city police department harbormaster.
(b)
This section does not preclude bona fide commercial salvage diving operations, and emergency and recovery operations by any law enforcement agency.
The person that got kicked out wading was NOT breaking the law and I also was NOT. I was also diving. So who can guess why I was not breaking the law?
I don't expect anyone here to try to back down a bully with a badge. I have a few times. NOT the easiest path to take. In one lake the police were called on me 9 times. The first 6 the residence were told I was legal. The 7th the officer decided I was not. Even his SGT stood up for him. Easy remedy. I told them I was not going to leave unless I received a citation. the Sgt said he really did not want to give me one. I insisted. I got it and left. Went to court and it was dismissed also. The 8th time the officers told the folks I was legal. the 9th 3 officers showed up including a Sgt and Lt. They told the folks in no uncertain terms that I was legal and if they were called again they would give them a citation for harassing me. That was about 4 years ago. I go back and am welcome by all now.
Another time I backed down a bully with a badge, he threatened to tow my truck, give me a ticket for a bent plate and a few threats I can't remember all for him thinking I was trespassing. Well I wasn't and I told him to go ahead and tow it, I would sit on a log until it was gone and I sat down. He got in his car and slammed the door. After a few minutes he rolled down his window, called me over and apologized.
I admit, I am stubborn. Some here will praise my actions, others will condemn them. It doesn't matter to me. This post isn't for that purpose.
KNOW the law and abide by it. Learn how to enjoy the hobby WITHIN the law. That is what this post is about. Learn how to use a screwdriver. Know where you can detect and where it really is off limits. Most here will not hunt a parking strip. I will in a heartbeat. Will people call the police? Yep. Is it legal? Probably in most states.
I have LOTS of experience with this subject as a former officer and all my dealings with the police.
Find a park that is posted. Obey the signs BUT ask questions and permission. I found a totally virgin park in Utah because I ASKED and was never shown the ordinance. I was told there was one but nobody ever showed me the rule in writing. Signs mean nothing if they are just there to scare people digging holes away.
Once you find a rule or law, EXAMINE it closely. Is there a condition? No disturbing plants no removing sod? A screwdriver doesn't do any damage. Easy to use on shallow coins as deep as your index finger. So detect and if you get confronted do not have any digging tool with you and have popping coins with a screwdriver mastered. It isn't hard.
Make business cards on your printer. SHOW people in charge how you retrieve a target. You might find virgin spots that give you a green light. Business cards give people your name and number if they ever have or see a problem. They know you try to be professional in what you do. They can also remember who they gave permission to. I gave one of my underwater ones to the park supervisor in Utah. It worked.
Now for the dangerous stuff. If you feel froggy, politely argue with the police if confronted. HOWEVER with a warning. A disorderly conduct ticket is BROAD. Not giving in to supposed authority could get you a broad ticket that can stick. That would be up to a judge. If you leave a spot and go back later there is no harm in that.
If you do want to explain your rights it is best to have a copy of the law WITH YOU in your vehicle.
Two years ago I was in a lake and diving in a swim area that was roped off. The people that owned the marina told me I could not be in their swim area. I told them they were wrong. The guy asked if I ever heard of riparian rights. I said sure have and you don't have them. I went back under. About a half hour later I heard a BAM BAM BAM. I come up and there is an officer on the dock. He told me I was trespassing. I said "NO, I am not." He said "now that you are standing up I was" I said no. I said this lake has a public boat ramp and a public park on it. Michigan law states ANY lake with public access, anybody owning property on the lake, their property ends at the high water mark. He said he was researching the law while watching me and he THINKS I am right. I told him I was and gave him my background. I also gave him my drivers license number which I have current and memorized.
We had a wonderful talk and he went to educate the owners while I went back to diving.
Last year I had an incident that was not as cordial. I got three citations for sticking up for my rights. Another member on here was told to get out of the water and he did. I had to go to court but in the outcome all three citations were dismissed. Some officers THINK they know the laws BUT also think they have a gun and a badge so they are ALWAYS right. NOT. They were wrong and not only am I allowed to detect where I was, they had better leave me alone this year.
The law concerning the Detroit River:
Sec. 23-2-2. - Swimming and underwater diving; prohibitions.
(a)
A person shall not swim, bathe, or engage in underwater diving operations outside of buoyed and designated swim areas, except when authorized by the city police department harbormaster.
(b)
This section does not preclude bona fide commercial salvage diving operations, and emergency and recovery operations by any law enforcement agency.
The person that got kicked out wading was NOT breaking the law and I also was NOT. I was also diving. So who can guess why I was not breaking the law?
I don't expect anyone here to try to back down a bully with a badge. I have a few times. NOT the easiest path to take. In one lake the police were called on me 9 times. The first 6 the residence were told I was legal. The 7th the officer decided I was not. Even his SGT stood up for him. Easy remedy. I told them I was not going to leave unless I received a citation. the Sgt said he really did not want to give me one. I insisted. I got it and left. Went to court and it was dismissed also. The 8th time the officers told the folks I was legal. the 9th 3 officers showed up including a Sgt and Lt. They told the folks in no uncertain terms that I was legal and if they were called again they would give them a citation for harassing me. That was about 4 years ago. I go back and am welcome by all now.
Another time I backed down a bully with a badge, he threatened to tow my truck, give me a ticket for a bent plate and a few threats I can't remember all for him thinking I was trespassing. Well I wasn't and I told him to go ahead and tow it, I would sit on a log until it was gone and I sat down. He got in his car and slammed the door. After a few minutes he rolled down his window, called me over and apologized.
I admit, I am stubborn. Some here will praise my actions, others will condemn them. It doesn't matter to me. This post isn't for that purpose.
KNOW the law and abide by it. Learn how to enjoy the hobby WITHIN the law. That is what this post is about. Learn how to use a screwdriver. Know where you can detect and where it really is off limits. Most here will not hunt a parking strip. I will in a heartbeat. Will people call the police? Yep. Is it legal? Probably in most states.
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