Off limits?????

[Charlie P. (NY)]

That's true, too. As I say, it depends on who turns you in. If some park superintendent just went three rounds with a loudmouth MD who kicked and screamed that it was his constitutional right; and all the park vehicles had slashed tires the next day . . . you're in trouble from the get-go. If you are polite and say: "Oh, I am pretty careful about returning my soil and sod and carry out all the junk metal I find. Thought I was helping out."

You catch more files with honey.

I'm guilty of it myself. If I can't find a likely body to ask I go with the "easier to ask forgiveness than permission" route in public areas. But I know someday that will likely get me in hot water (and besmerch the name of MD everywhere). I'm not even sure who to ask for state game lands. "Detecting? No. I'm hunting squirrel - this is a gamma ray gun."

Also, if they find you on the first base line digging holes - you're history. Keep off any groomed playing surface or the maintenance staff may put you under home plate with Jimmy Hoffa.

 

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[Jeffro]

My way of doing things.... I research the area first, to find out if it's OK or not. If it is, I go. If its not specifically outlawed, I go and ask permission from someone, face to face. I rarely ever ask over the phone, its too easy for them to say no.


Just a clarification....

 

[ModernMiner]

All good points listed above. Thanks! On the other hand, I peg the chances of being given a "warning" to leave and never come back at about 75%. This leaves in my mind about a 25% chance (give or take) of the worst case scenarios mentioned above.... As with many things in life it comes down to simple economics --- risk vs. reward. I have no idea who to call as far as whose juridiction the lighthouse and surrounding property falls under etc etc. It would definitely be a roll of the dice whether or not I made either "big finds" or a trip to the "big house". Place your bets! It really is a tempting site otherwise I wouldn't even waste the time contemplating. Hey modern miner, classic photo reference there 'Shawshank' is great movie.
HH
-spyguy

Thanks Spyguy.
Shawshank is one of my favorite flicks. I even have the poster in my office as you can see.
That may be your solution too. Tunnel your way in like Andy did in the movie.
Good luck to you if you decide to try it. I can almost feel the gold!
-MM-

 

[Stormtrooper154]

Whats the old saying, "Don't do the crime if you not willing to do the time". There is no excuse for breaking any laws to enjoy this hobby IMHO. More then likely if caught, you may pay a fine and be done with it. However, Criminal Trespassing is a Misdemeanor crime punishable by up to 1 year in jail and and fines of up to $1,000. If a judge is having a bad day, you could see the inside of a jail cell for 1 year because you didn't want to ask permission.

Not to mention, you are making the hobby of MD'ing look bad in the eyes of the courts which could cause lots of problems down the road for other people trying to enjoy this hobby. It only takes one jackass to screw it up for everyone else....Do you want to be that Jackass

 

[SC_hunter]

ModernMiner....couldn't resist...You sure it was that bad dude in the prison you were feeling and not the "gold" ...LOL ... Just pickin

 

[ModernMiner]

ModernMiner....couldn't resist...You sure it was that bad dude in the prison you were feeling and not the "gold" ...LOL ... Just pickin

LMAO.
SC,
All I know is it was in nugget form. Ouch!
-MM-

 

[George (MN)]

For city parks ask the city police. I called St. Paul parks & asked if it's OK to detect & they said "no digging". I asked if my screwdriver was considered a shovel & they said "no disturbing the soil". I called the St. Paul police & asked if I could be fined for detecting the city parks. I was told maybe, if I left a big hole that could injure someone & they just said other than that to use my own judgment.

I detected many times at a high school that yielded some silver. Came back & new signs were up "non-school use of property prohibited". So I called them up & they transferred me to the school liaison officer. He said metal detecting was OK, the signs were put up to discourage people from sitting in their cars after school.

Another city had the no digging, defacing, etc. signs in a park. I asked a park worker if it was OK for me to detect & he said "I don't see why not!" They were just concerned about intentional vandalism.

Another park in another city, again sign no digging, defacing, etc. So I wrote & got back a letter saying detecting OK, as long as it's not a business. I wonder how many have been told no detecting without explanation but because of a law that says no business may operate in a park? Maybe they were trying to protect the park from something like a strip-mining operation.

In the city where I live, I will detect when the parks & school ballfields are crowded & make sure people see me putting the trash where it belongs. HH, George (MN)

 

[LI Tom]

In new york state parks you need a permit($20),which only covers the region of the state you live in,which for me is all of Long Island.They give you a map showing each park and the areas of each you are allowed to hunt.I assume you would need a separate permit for each region.

 

[papa]

MM, I'm sorry to say,that here in Virginia,state owned land along with any federal land is off limits to MD.

 

[boogeyman]

Both in California and Arizona, I've talked to the school Principals or other administrator for permission. If they hymmed or hawed I'd whip out my drivers license and tell them they were more than welcome to make a copy to file. I never had a one of them make a copy and as of yet haven't been turned down. In Arizona, some districts have "Security officers" the guy I talked to was more than happy to OK me, and when I got stopped one evening by the city cops, they checked and I was in some data base as OK to be there. I think if you're willing to prsent ID and tell them to keep it on hand, they just figure you're on the up & up.