The subject is an interesting one. PART of the problem is the same at national historic places. People still BREAK THE LAWS. Most will not get caught because there just isn't the manpower.
Other issues is there is a park I hunted in the water at and found some nice gold. About three years ago they decided it might hold artifacts and they made detecting illegal. Just a little late.
I won't condone breaking laws but that is up to each and every one of you. People say me standing up for my rights gives us a black eye as a group. I know people breaking laws and detecting off limit sites give us a bigger black eye.
Before they decided on making laws against detectors and detectorists, I am positive places got hit that are now illegal to hunt.
In Utah I was hunting a MAN made beach on a man made reservoir. They dammed off a canyon and presto a lake. THEN they hauled in over three foot of sand and paved the park to make a beach and parking lot. Now for the kicker.
They made metal detecting ILLEGAL because you MIGHT find an indian artifact!!
Figure that one out!! I was stopped and told to leave. This was after at least 10 days of detecting it. I wasn't caught the first bunch of times. AND there are no signs posted.
I won't go back. I know it is absolute foolishness, but I follow the laws as written, UNLESS a LEGAL way around them.
That is how I get into some wonderful places including the Detroit River. Here is the law for 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.
So how did I beat the tickets?
Look at section B. I find gold, I sell gold, I have a business and business cards. I am salvaging gold to sell. THAT my friends is commercial.
So I have a legal right to dive the Detroit river unless they change the law again, in which they just might do one year. But until then, my underwater escapades are legal and NO police officer has the right to bother me.
Other issues is there is a park I hunted in the water at and found some nice gold. About three years ago they decided it might hold artifacts and they made detecting illegal. Just a little late.
I won't condone breaking laws but that is up to each and every one of you. People say me standing up for my rights gives us a black eye as a group. I know people breaking laws and detecting off limit sites give us a bigger black eye.
Before they decided on making laws against detectors and detectorists, I am positive places got hit that are now illegal to hunt.
In Utah I was hunting a MAN made beach on a man made reservoir. They dammed off a canyon and presto a lake. THEN they hauled in over three foot of sand and paved the park to make a beach and parking lot. Now for the kicker.
They made metal detecting ILLEGAL because you MIGHT find an indian artifact!!
Figure that one out!! I was stopped and told to leave. This was after at least 10 days of detecting it. I wasn't caught the first bunch of times. AND there are no signs posted.
I won't go back. I know it is absolute foolishness, but I follow the laws as written, UNLESS a LEGAL way around them.
That is how I get into some wonderful places including the Detroit River. Here is the law for 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.
So how did I beat the tickets?
Look at section B. I find gold, I sell gold, I have a business and business cards. I am salvaging gold to sell. THAT my friends is commercial.
So I have a legal right to dive the Detroit river unless they change the law again, in which they just might do one year. But until then, my underwater escapades are legal and NO police officer has the right to bother me.