Todays find: The Police

[Hot zone]

I like to metal detect in the rain...I think they leave me alone because I must be nuts and it isn't worth getting wet for!

 

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[neworder]

I just started about a month ago but I only search school grounds on Sunday when there is nothing going on. I dug up a live bullet a few weeks ago in the ground on school property and keep it with the items I am finding. If anybody gives me grief I can show them the bullet I found in the ground and it was good that I found it instead of some kid.

 

[jewelerguy]

I think some of the people who have a problem with diggers is brought on by tv shows who don't present the majority of us correctly, giving them the perception that we are destroying property or making millions of dollars from our finds

 

[jeff of pa]

The problem is that 80 people would be fine with it and have no issue. But if 1 person decides they need to make a point or show some authority that's all it takes man. Keep your chin up and keep searching for great sites. I truly believe that everything happens for some reason and this day may be the salary of you getting on an amazing site and finding the something amazing :-) silver lining my friend, that glass is ALWAYS half full

Yes just got a call Yesterday From a Church I was trying to get permission for.
he says when he brought it up at the meeting, 1 Person said even if they would detect
they would not think it was ok to detect on Church property
I guess they or their god is a greedy one sorry ! but people who are supposed to....
well..... I won't go there . I still have people at another 1780's church
planning on bringing my detecting up at a meeting. hopefully all these are more
community minded.

Sorry to hear how paranoid they are there. It has been maybe 10 years since I stopped by my
old school to ask them to send someone down with keys, to open the gate
at the football field,
so I can detect it. Makes me wonder now what would happen.

I just started about a month ago but I only search school grounds on Sunday when there is nothing going on. I dug up a live bullet a few weeks ago in the ground on school property and keep it with the items I am finding. If anybody gives me grief I can show them the bullet I found in the ground and it was good that I found it instead of some kid.

Probably Not a good idea to carry it with you, Or even show it to them if approached

Zero tolerance

you see what they do to kids who say their dad owns a gun.
they would probably call out a Swat team on ya for saying Bullet

tell them you'll tell / show what you found if they walk across the street with
you first, or are willing to set up a meeting off of school property,
if they are a scared of crossing the street with you.

 

[treblehunter]

Went after school hours, even after the extended day program. Am planning on going after work tomorrow to the district office and speaking with him man to man, politely asking permission. Good idea or let sleeping dogs lie?

Don't give him the opportunity to tell you no, I hunt my schools early mornings when no one is around. Best to wait until summer when the kids are off and not around. On the other side of his story, it is a real security issue nowadays at schools. If you were in his position you would have to do the same thing. I agree with Abe, go somewhere else, the stuff in the ground will stay there. Let the smoke clear, then go back for short two hour hunts when no kids are there. Its public property and you pay taxes.

 

[ivan salis]

well not knowing who you are , and thinking that old creep might be using the detector to lure lil suzy or johnny to grab em --the super -- hit the "panic" button -- talking t0o them ahead of time MIGHT have prevented it --also hitting school areas "after hours"--weekends when "busy body" worrying folks types aren't normally there is often wise.. and avoids conflict.

 

[CRUSADER]

Our schools property is owned by the councils & there is no way we would get permission for any of them. Although I once did a history lesson with the kids where we detected the school grounds which used to belong to the manor house & got some cool old stuff including Georgian coins.

 

[jeff of pa]

Our schools property is owned by the councils & there is no way we would get permission for any of them. Although I once did a history lesson with the kids where we detected the school grounds which used to belong to the manor house & got some cool old stuff including Georgian coins.

yea I hate councils.
seems every time I was told it had to be brought up at a Council Meeting,
the answer always come back, Sorry No !
& I can almost guarantee , it was one nosey old Busy body
of the female persuasion who decided detecting isn't normal,
or maybe even had no idea what detecting is, but had to throw her
unhealthy weight around

I Still keep hoping though.

 

[Pdr206]

Decided to let it go for now. Just a shame what this world has come to.

 

[Eagleye]

Yep this is why I try to avoid places where there are people or go at times when they are absent.. I know not everyone is a anti detectorist, but I don't like to take my chances. I probably miss out on finding a lot of cool stuff for this reason but I'm still doing ok

 

[tcornel]

Most school supers report to the board of education. Perhaps you or your parents may know them.

They may be quite willing to speak to the super to let him know they have no objection to detecting
after hours or not is session. After all they are the super's boss and he will follow their instructions.

 

[oney]

Had the same happen to me once. Officer was kind and even seemed annoyed by what was reported vs who I actually was and what I was doing.

Detecting goes on.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Had the same happen to me once. Officer was kind and even seemed annoyed by what was reported vs who I actually was and what I was doing.

Detecting goes on.

Maybe, we should sue. Or at least register a complaint that someone is giving false information to the police department. That IS against the law, ya know?

It might even be considered defamation of character, also, against the law.

C'mon people! There just HAS to be a few lawyers out there who enjoy this hobby!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

The schools, parks and baseball fields are paid for with YOUR tax dollars. You have a RIGHT to use them. Obviously, you shouldn't go when they're in school or when there's a game is in progress. I go to schools on a Sunday morning or on holidays. Or I wait until school gets out for the summer.

Parks and baseball fields are best when it's cold out or rainy. Too many people around when it's nice out. Most people are nice, but it only takes one jerk to ruin your day. But anyone who harasses me gets a friendly reminder that what I'm doing is perfectly legal and that it's PUBLIC land. Don't be nasty, but you have to stand up for your rights or you won't have them for very long.

 

[Hot zone]

I Have recovered several live bullets and other objects that could be used as weapons, from school grounds... Sunday in fact I found a live 45 round a couple inches from the surface, I bet it could be fired! Show the superintendent such items and I bet he would approve!

 

[Kaleb71386]

Well said. That's why I took it to the mayor I bet they still get calls because I go every day to parks / schools cops drive by and never stop me anymore just get a camera out when you get approached by anyone because it's harassment for them to bother you if you ask them to leave you alone and your not breaking any laws by detecting for real what would the charge be? Not jumping off a bridge because a cop tells you to. If your not breaking the law then it's free game who cares if they don't want you to do it. I don't want people doing a lot of things but that don't mean they can't

 

[beerguy]

I called our local Superintendant before hunting a local school, whe gave me the all clear on all school property in the district.

That being said, this doesn't preclude someone from calling to complain and getting me kicked out.

 

[goldkey]

Had the same thing happen to me during the summer months. I was detecting around the soccer field and the superintendent drove up on his golf cart.
I had just finished covering up a hole. He says "What are you doing"? My first thought was...Is it not obvious what I'm doing? I proceeded to explain the obvious.
I'm metal detecting! He said....Who said you could do this?....I'm SUPERINTENDENT of this school! I said..."I called the County School Systems' office and spoke with (gave his name)
and he assured me that it was OK to hunt any public school in the county. He also stated that he appreciated me calling and asking for permission as others just seemed to go as they pleased.
The "Super" I could tell was even more agitated that I had gotten permission to hunt on "His" school. Power trip was most obvious with this man. I was as nice as I could be with him.
He proceeded to tell me that if I was to come on the property that I needed to contact him when I arrived and let him know that I was going to be there. Seems that all other people that come to the school to walk their dogs or play around on the playgrounds would have to do the same....but no...not the case. I told him I would be glad to notify him and asked for his number.....he said...Just go to the office and someone will contact me. He then left on his golf cart. Ten minutes later the police pull up. I thought...That "Super" called them on me after talking to me. The police sergeant was very nice...we had a good conversation about detecting. He left and I proceeded to do my thing. Since then...I make sure that I only go later in the evening when he's not there and weekends...mainly on Sundays.
During the conversation with the officer we discussed how people are really paranoid these days about security. On one hand I understand...on the other...when you remove God from the school grounds...all Hell can break loose.....Go figure!

 

[Kaleb71386]

Had the same thing happen to me during the summer months. I was detecting around the soccer field and the superintendent drove up on his golf cart.
I had just finished covering up a hole. He says "What are you doing"? My first thought was...Is it not obvious what I'm doing? I proceeded to explain the obvious.
I'm metal detecting! He said....Who said you could do this?....I'm SUPERINTENDENT of this school! I said..."I called the County School Systems' office and spoke with (gave his name)
and he assured me that it was OK to hunt any public school in the county. He also stated that he appreciated me calling and asking for permission as others just seemed to go as they pleased.
The "Super" I could tell was even more agitated that I had gotten permission to hunt on "His" school. Power trip was most obvious with this man. I was as nice as I could be with him.
He proceeded to tell me that if I was to come on the property that I needed to contact him when I arrived and let him know that I was going to be there. Seems that all other people that come to the school to walk their dogs or play around on the playgrounds would have to do the same....but no...not the case. I told him I would be glad to notify him and asked for his number.....he said...Just go to the office and someone will contact me. He then left on his golf cart. Ten minutes later the police pull up. I thought...That "Super" called them on me after talking to me. The police sergeant was very nice...we had a good conversation about detecting. He left and I proceeded to do my thing. Since then...I make sure that I only go later in the evening when he's not there and weekends...mainly on Sundays.
During the conversation with the officer we discussed how people are really paranoid these days about security. On one hand I understand...on the other...when you remove God from the school grounds...all Hell can break loose.....Go figure!

Wow couldn't even give his number out.. That makes you feel like you were talking to the right guy lol.. We live in nazi Germany now and not America land of the (free)

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Went after school hours, even after the extended day program. Am planning on going after work tomorrow to the district office and speaking with him man to man, politely asking permission. Good idea or let sleeping dogs lie?

Pdr206, Great post. Commonly disputed topic, with persons giving a wide range of ideas, as you can tell ! I've gone through the 3 pages and see the vast majority say to simply have avoided such an encounter, by merely having gone at lower traffic times when such busy-bodies weren't/aren't around. Because as you surmise, it's very few that would have an issue like that (only a principal, etc...). Hence, you can certainly run around trying to make sure everyone loves the idea beforehand, if you want (ie.: "get permission" before you start). And you can certainly run around trying to fight this, get it clarified, over-turned, etc... But let's be honest here: detecting DOES have ... uh ... connotation (that you might be about to leave a mark).

And let's say for a moment that HAD gone and asked first. But do you see the folly of that in this situation ? Isn't the outcome readily apparent if you'd gone that route? Because, doh, guess who you'd be asking ? THE VERY SAME SUPERINTENDENT . Thus, do you think his answer would have been any different? Or to the extent you might have asked someone else first (a lowly janitor, or asked at the police station instead of the schools, etc...), then seriously now: How would that have changed this encounter? It wouldn't have. Your "permission" would have been promptly revoked. As an example of this, look closely at goldkey's post #38. And also notice his new solution to this :

"Since then...I make sure that I only go later in the evening when he's not there and weekends...mainly on Sundays"