I see several others have already chimed in with the wise advise of ... essentially ...: "Don't be the latest victim of no-on-cared-till-you-asked" psychology. And "look it up yourself". And that if there's not a specific "no md'ing" rule (in print, that you looked up for yourself), then presto: It's not dis-allowed.
Thank you .... Where would be the best place to find these regulations or find them posted on site?...
Google is your friend. In this day-&-age, it's becoming normal for ANY public entity (city, county, etc...) to have their muni-codes, park rules, etc... SOMEWHERE on-line. Eg.: Dogs on leash, no fireworks, etc...
If you STILL can't find them, you are welcome to walk in or call and ask
"where can I find a list of all the rules applying to the park (or forest or beach or .... whatever).?" If they ask "what is it that you wanted to know?", you stick to your guns and say : "To find the list of rules of usage".
Eg.: closes at sunset, group event permit costs- if-any, etc.... They should direct you to where it exists on the net, or in binder form down at city hall, etc...
... Digging/damaging turf could be enough to get you their attention. However there is probably some concerned individual would call police. But can they may confiscate your equipment even on a technicality, etc? ...
Huh ? If you leave no trace of your presence, then you have not damag
ED the turf, right ? As for someone potentially calling (simply because they THINK you're going to damage): You can never solve that. In this hobby, you are never guaranteed that everyone will love you and roll out red carpets for you. Because, yes, we're in a hobby with "connotations" (esp. if you're in nice-manicured turf). You have to grow a thick skin. Go at lower traffic times and AVOID such kill-joy lookie-lous. Presto, problem solved.
And ... no ... No one has EVER had their "equipment confiscated" for "damaging turf", where, oh where, oh where, are you getting such fears from ? Seriously, the worst that you'd get is a "scram". Just give lip service, and come back when that singular lookie-lou isn't present. You're looking for the wedding ring your wife lost there the previous week, etc.... Don't over-think it. The vast majority of times passer-bys are ACTUALLY INTRIGUED and nice. Asking things like
"what's the best thing you've ever found?" and
"where can I buy one of those? " etc....
Get over the notion that "everyone hates this " and "I'm doing something wrong" attitude. Otherwise, that persona will simply become a self-fulfilling psychology. Perceived by others, spoil your own fun, etc....
... by a police officer who was kind enough to explain that someone who could see me where I was standing called and he had to respond. He suggested I leave and when I return I should avoid that area.
BINGO ! I've had that happen before too. Eg.: Some lookie-lou thinks you'll harm the grass, or that you're a pervert, or that your detector bothered her dog, etc... And often time the cop or gardener is just "responding to miss lookie-lou" (but could personally care less).
On one occasion, after some casual chit-chat, the cop confided in me that a certain busy-body at a corner-high rise apartment thinks they're the "self-appointed monitor" . Of any and all things that go on there. And said that if I go to the other end of the park, out-of-view of this corner, that all would be fine.
As you can see: If I had not engaged in that casual chit-chat, I'd have never have known that.
All-too-often md'rs get a "scram" like that, and assume it's gospel law. Or that they must now "go fight" it at city hall, and "seek clarifications" (thus opening up more cans of worms). When in fact, 99% of these (unless there was a true rule) are simply flukes and isolated incidents, where .... they never amount to anything.
When I travel around, Unless 1) I see a specific sign, or 2) unless it's an obvious historic sensitive monument, 3) unless there's an archie convention going on, I just go !