ME&MYACE400
Elite Member
curious minds want to know
Are they more lucky
Are they more lucky
No National park beaches.
metal addict: That was the singular type ocean beach I was referring to in my answer to the O.P.
And I know the particular fed section in your part of the SF bay area that you no doubt had in mind But I heard of a fellow there, about 18-ish years ago, who simply didn't know any better. He routinely went to that "certain" beach. Was doing quite well. He simply couldn't understand why the other local md'rs weren't all over this. Since the volleyball courts, towel line, etc... were giving up scores of coins, and occasional rings.
He would hit it 1x or 2x per week, for over a year. Eventually he got to know other hobbyists in his area. And he confided in a new found fellow md'r of his honey hole beach. Imagine his surprise when the other md'r said "isn't that off-limits?" Doh!
At first he assumed the guy was mistaken. Because, duh... what harm can you do to a beach for pete's sake ? And besides: he'd gone there for an entire year, in full view of anyone and everyone, and no one had ever said a peep to him. Hence his friend must certainly be mistaken. Right ?
But after hearing it from another source or two as well, he decided to look into the matter himself. Hmmm, sure enough, there's some cultural heritage wording, or whatever. You can imagine the dilemma he felt: Simply continue ? (since it's obvious no one cares), or ... stop ? Could you blame him ?
Perhaps now, all these years later, it's different. I *did* hear of another guy, on a stretch of that coast, who *did* get ... uh ... "appraised". But it was a simple scram. No big deal.
Actually I was referring to Point Reyes beaches and All San Francisco beaches.
...You can not detect most State Parks unless they are on the ocean and then you need to ask first. Good luck!
...However there are places off limits that will get you in huge trouble if you get caught.
I can understand how this statement would be true for land sites. But when it comes to ocean beaches (that admittedly might have a rule, like fed. beaches): I don't know if I'd call it "huge trouble". I know a guy who got booted from GGNRA fed. section beach near San Francisco. And it was just a friendly "scram".
If anyone's got an example of an md'r being roughed up, ticketed, confiscated, etc.... from a beach, my hunch it will be for someone who can't take a warning, was being obnoxious in some way, or night sneaking an obvious historic theme (shipwreck claim?) type spot. Not saying flukes can't happen, not saying some places don't have rules, but ... just saying .... beaches are about the benign hunting grounds when it comes to metal detecting. By all means obey the laws if a law exists. But just saying I can't think of any "huge trouble" when it's come to beaches .
.... But you remember last year and my citations? Yes I couldn't take a warning. ....
... when there was an officer within my sight.
Oh you are SSOO tempting me to re-hash that great old legal drama you had. haha. You can debate an officer or judge till you're blue in the face. And maybe you'd be right and prevail, maybe not. But in my 40+ yrs. of this, I've gotten to where I consider md'ing a little like nose-picking: You just choose more discreet times, so as not to offend the squeemish.
I've had "scrams" where I knew no law existed. But rather than stand my ground (where I'd run the risk that it could be said to "harm sandcrabs" or something stupid), I just give lip service and come back later. But ... as I said, that pro/con discussion won't be re-hashed. Your current quote, of simply avoiding a singular griper's sights, will no doubt work wonders
There are a few state parks here where the water is totally off limits.
.... It is not only cleaned out it is kept cleaned out. So much for the no metal detecting clause. I bet the rest of the off limits parks are the same way....