Detecting Not Allowed

[herb n surf]

Went to a county park in Hillsborough County Florida (A county with a long history of corruption) to do some detecting this morning . I started detecting this park in 1971 . (I have paid property taxes for 45 years here ) As I stated in an earlier thread they now charge us to use the parks that we the taxpayers paid for . Start detecting and here drives up the park staff ." Sir ,that is no longer allowed , no detecting in county parks . Could cause someone to break a leg " . I'm probing with a screwdriver...... for Petes sake... Remember these politicians that passed this stupid rule are the same bunch that allow phosphate companies to destroy thousands of acres of land here while mining , and allow developers to destroy our wetlands . Of course that's the way the commissioners make that extra money .. Wake up folks , they are takers......​

 

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[Rawhide]

Should have told him you were just detecting not digging. Ask him what hole? Who broke a leg? I quit going to Florida for vacations a long time ago Herb. Sorry to hear your troubles, I would have to challenge that one.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Now seriously, do you *really* ever think anyone ever "broke a leg" in any hole, in any county park there, left by an md'r ? No. Obviously this is just their "go - to" reason/answer for anyone who asks "why?". In other words, a lot of times, the rule "no detecting" is made up (simply because "holes" is, .... afterall, the knee-jerk mental image of md'ing). And then we we ask "but why?", they say "because of holes".

So we md'r say "durn those people who left holes!" When in fact, there may never have even BEEN any such case. ESPECIALLY holes where someone "broke a leg". But sure, they have to have a "go-to" answer, to justify the rule they just invented.

 

[cntrydncr1]

that stinks Herb!

 

[rjsupersonic]

I know just how you feel, I would at least go to the counties website and shoot off an email explaining the facts. I just did that in Casa Grande, AZ similar situation. The Mayor set up a meeting with the Park Director so I could explain the hobby of metal detecting. He is now drawing up guidelines to allow detecting...give it a try you never know. I started detecting around 1974 and in the last few years local and federal agencies have come down on detecting like never before.

 

[herb n surf]

I thought about this and I think I have a suggestion that can save everyone a lot of grief . A politician should only be allowed one term in office . At the end of their term , they should be made to leave the country as a means of limiting the damage they do.

 

[jeff of pa]

"I just picked up a Can Tab,
Someone could have Tripped on it & Broke a sweat "

a Meteor may have Crashed too

 

[cudamark]

This is where a strong local club can help. If have enough members and you produce a united front supporting metal detecting, You can get things changed for the better. Politicians do many things wrong but they do one thing extremely well, they can count votes. If your numbers outweigh the opposition, you will likely get your way.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Herb, here's another thought: have you seen that this is actually a true and written rule? Or just some park person's singular opinion or policy? Because if it's not truly a written rule, then .... I hate to say it .... but I would just avoid "just that one person", and choose a more opportune time (when he's not there).

Too many people assume, when one cop, or one gardener, or one city person says "scram", that it must be gospel truth law/rule. Not necessarily the case.

Example: one time, a few years ago, in my city, I had an out-of-town md'ing buddy visiting. I took him to a park that I'd detected here since the late 1970s. Mind you, I've never had a problem there. And to my knowledge, nothing official in our city's books. However, we just happened to be there when a park staff was working. He saw us across the park, and drove over to say "no detecting". I said "since when?" and told him I'd detected there for years, no problem. He said "new policy, that his boss told him to "BOL" for, since they had someone else that left holes". Once I heard that rationale, my buddy and I gleefully showed him the area we were at, and I told him "we just did 10 recoveries in this exact area, and as you can see, you can't even tell we were here" The park staff looked at the area, and had to agree, that we weren't the ones who were a problem. However, he said "I'm just telling you what I was told" Then he said with a wink: "When I get off work, what I don't see, doesn't bother me" When my friend heard that, he says "great, what time do you get off work?" The fellow said "5pm". It was 4:45pm then. So we merely went and sat on a picnic bench for 15 min. Sure enough, at 5pm, we saw him get in his truck, and leave. We merely resume detecting. That was 6 or 7 years ago, and I've been back to that park multiple times, and never heard a peep again.

I'm not suggesting this for places with an actual "rule" that specifically "said" no metal detectors. But if it's just an isolated booting, or just someone's morphing of other things in a "policy" type of interperetation, then no, I do not take this as a "rule". Same for cops bootings: You'd be surprised how often they are just responding to some busy-body's call in. And as such, they are duty-bound to make a decision. When in fact, perhaps they personally don't care. Again, if I know it's not an actual rule, I'll just give that one place a rest, and return at a more off-time.

Too many people take an isolated incident, and assume it's "the law". Not saying its' always like this. Nor am I saying to back and parade yourself in front of this individual the very next day, but .... just sayin' .....

 

[PullTabPete]

You could have put an eye with that screwdriver Herb, better safe than sorry. It would be a joke if it wasn't serious.

I would check if there is an actual ordinance.

Best of Luck,

Pete

 

[scotty544]

Definitely would research that rule and get with some official and talk it over. If all else fails just hunt at night with a small led headlamp. ;-)

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Definitely would research that rule and get with some official and talk it over. If all else fails just hunt at night with a small led headlamp. ;-)

Well, if he "researched that rule", and found that it didn't really exist (and was thus just one person's morphing or interpretation of "something else",) then ..... yes I would do as you say, and just go at more opportune times. But no, I wouldn't go seeking other "officials" to "talk it over". Sometimes efforts to "get something clarified", only lead to a furtherance, or actual in-writing rule. And you might end up kicking yourself for making yourself a "big red X" in need of scrutiny.

Only if there were simply no other way (ie.; that same set of prying busy-body eyes always out there, ready to thrust his morphing on you). And as for the small led head-lamp, actually, best to let your eyes adjust to a full-moon light. By hunting with any type of head-lamp, you will find your eyes adjusting to "just that beam", and will go blind to anything out-side that beam of light. The moon-light is plenty sufficient to see where you're swinging, etc... Besides, lights will only attract attention. And you can keep a tiny penlight to see the dates on coins when necessary.

 

[scotty544]

My head lamp has a single light setting that is very dim :-). He stated it was a county wide park ban. Seems like I would say something to someone.

 

[olfacere]

Most people forget that we exist.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

He stated it was a county wide park ban.....

Yes. That is what the county guy "said". I would wonder ... would make sure, before assuming that is true. It might be. But then again, sometimes people will just say such things. Eg.: "that's not allowed", etc.... And the way I would "make sure", is to look it up for myself.

 

[tinman68]

once again done in by a tv show. Any bone head with a $50 bounty hunter gets away with digging gopher holes and the next day its blamed on a true lover of the hobby.The battle over the hobby has started only the warriors will survive.Yes that's right I just watched sons of anarchy

 

[Rafdog]

Herb... I recently visited a state park in Hillsborough County. I called ahead of time and asked the ranger if I could metal detect. His answer was, as long as you cover up your holes. So I think that particular individual you ran in to was full of it.

 

[goldentruth]

Definitely would research that rule and get with some official and talk it over. If all else fails just hunt at night with a small led headlamp. ;-)

Here we go, They could call us a new Breed:"The Ninja Detector!" LMFAO... lol

 

[Jay In NewKen]

Here we go, They could call us a new Breed:"The Ninja Detector!" LMFAO... lol

Nah, the true "Ninja Detector" would use an IR flash light and night vision goggles. LoL.....Wait! That's not a bad idea LoL

 

[RECON]

Rafdog....County vs State park...could make all the difference!