Found 5 wheaties before the cops came.

[tripperman79]

I've had a couple black and whites stop by and ask me what I was doing. I have a prepared line ready and it has worked for me. I just say, "Picking up trash mostly." I say it politely with a smile, and then show them all of the nails, glass, bottle caps, cans, pop tabs, and junk in my pouch. Both times, the officers let me keep hunting and left.

[Dubay420]

I've never been stopped by a police officer, but i do the same as you tripper, i always make sure to dig some iron and aluminum cans when i first get to a site, that way i have some trash to show, especially from parks; since the only signs around say "No littering"

[roob47]

Originally Posted by sgtwilks

Ill try to make this short.

I was at a school yard after school hours and before dark like the rules state.

The sign on the fence had rules but nothing about MDing,just no dogs,golf or alcohol.

I saw a female watching me then open the chain fence next to the gate to allow a police car on the field.

The first thing out of the female cops mouth was what the f@@@ you doing Einstein?You don't stop what you doing when a cop is in the area?

She took my MD and digging tool.She said that woman at the gate told me several times to not dig there.

I told the cop.It never happened.(Because it did not)I told the cop I wanted a supervisor there.She said "you will see a supervisor at the police department"

I showed her my badge and said "let's go".I again told her no one told me anything.

She handed me back my equipment and said meet me where the woman was.She drove I walked.

By the time I got to the fence the woman said it was not me she spoke to.(I am the only one searching this field)

I do not know where this was going,maybe a possible set up,I don't know.

The female cop stayed and talked to me for a while about police stuff.She asked if I was OK and not going anywhere with this?

This is what I told her and this is exactly what I did.I wrote everything down that happened with times/date/people involved.I went to the police station and filed an incident report about the manner I was treated by the police and about the woman grounds keeper credibility and the exact rules of the site I searched.I had this form filed.I have a copy.

I went back to the school.Showed the principle the report.I also showed him the nails,shanks,drug baggies I found on his school grounds.He made a phone call.He asked me to show the vice principle where the weapons and drug baggies were found.I showed them.There was several more baggies there when I showed the VP.LOL

Long story short.I now have a visitor pass with my name on it. I pick it up Friday and return it Monday.I'm allowed to search anywhere on the site and the grounds keeper was told to back off.

Sounds like alot of work but there are alot of fields and good areas to search and to me it was a good fight.

And this is the way it should be , very well done.

[hydroman]

Great post sgtwilks

[pokie]

this happened to me i was told that i could not dig on school grounds i told him that we have done it for twenty years or more he said he didnt care he had gotten a complaint i left and the next day talked to the alderman in charge of that area and was told that there is no ordinance they informed the police dept and i was allowed back they told the officer that there was no law broken he saw me there and never did bother me after that so there is a way around these problems i am glad we got thru this without losing any more places to hunt as we are losing more of or rights every day thanks dennis

[Bell-Two]

Normally when a police officer comes it is response to a call may or may not be a complaint. Recently one came up to me in a park where I had permission from the Park Manager and said some one called and said "Someone is digging up the whole park!" Pretty neat trick on a 10 acre field with just a Lesche. The officer explained while he came out to see me, and said I don't see a problem and I had just pinpointed a target so I said to him let me show you how I do it. Cut the plug flipped it and there was a penny right on the plug I retrieved it put plug back and stamped it down. He looked and said he could not even tell it and he just watched me do it! I said to him "If it will make your life easier I will leave" he laughed and said "No thats ok you will never have a problem with me!"

[kascinoh]

Being an officer an MDer myself, I find that in most cases, the "complainant" really has no idea of what you are doing, other than digging. I typically try to recontact the complainant and explain the hobby...by doing this I usually get a "..oh I didn't know that..geez, I'm embarrassed I called" - but, sometimes you meet complainants that think they own the park and expect you to lead the MDer out in handcuffs...

If I get a complaint, I have to make contact if I can.

Sometimes, I find MDers who are digging with a shovel, ruining the hobby for all of us.

Sometimes, I find MDers who are very arrogant and hateful.

Most of the time, I find MDers who are appreciative, cooperative and respectful.

[sectshun8]

Originally Posted by Metal DT

Someone who quotes and thinks like Ice tea has probably had a few days in court.

Especially when they are actually referencing Ice Cube, not Ice T