Wasnt exactly offered the Key to the City!

[david680]

Wasn't exactly offered the Key to the City!

Decided to head down to the courthouse for a short hunt. Was there for about 20 minutes, when the Sheriff's deputy showed up. Three different people were so alarmed at the vandalism I was committing that they decided to waste his time to come talk to me. lol. Anyway, he was cordial and professional, told me straight up that as far as he knew he couldn't tell me to leave, but that it might be a good idea. It was raining anyway, so I was inclined to cooperate. I left having found only a key. And a new key at that. Too bad there are so many nosy and ignorant people in the world.

 

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[BARKER]

Hi David680; Yup, digging near or at a Courthouse will cause that to happen. Cops will be all over you in no time. They think that you may be trying to "case" the Courthouse or something. It's true as you found out. PEACE:RONB

 

[WHADIFIND]

How convenient! That you should be living in "SALEM".

 

[kingskid1611]

When you found the key you should have started whooping and hollering about now you could get that box of gold opened.

 

[releventchair]

Hey Mr. Deputy:
Would you be willin to trade a handcuff key for this here shiny one?
Maybe not...

 

[jeff of pa]

Sounds to me like You must have a very cool City there

I wouldn't in my wildest Dreams take it upon myself to detect around he County Courthouse here.
If I wouldn't be shot in the back by several cops within minutes,
I'd at least expect to be hauled across the street & Shoved behind bars in the already overcrowded Prison
never to see my detector again.
too many scared little bunnies in power these days

No not a Put down that you didn't ask first.
I'm just impressed with the Police officers reaction

congrats on the Key

 

[scruggs]

I'm glad you got out safe. Its always best to get permission first. Good luck in your future hunts!

 

[austin]

Wow, this is an easy one to solve. Use the Texas method. You find 5 people to go with you. Put orange vests on them, give them 2 shovels and one "borrowed" barricade (keep for the next time). Have the guys drink water, sit around and loiter while you detect. If by chance anyone complains(they won't) and a cop drops by(he won't either), just be prepared to tell them that you are from________________(in my case City Public Service) and that you have to find the gas lines before it will be safe to start digging. Use friends as workers to save money. Here, in a city of 2 million, 200,000 are illegal and really work cheap or free, if you lie and tell them you are La Migra(immigration). They'll be so happy when you give them $10 to split and let them go later that you'll never have a problem getting help again.

 

[port ewen ace]

stupid dopes jealous they are too dumb to dig treasure

 

[toasted]

I have detected my local courthouse. Site is 18th century, building is 19th. Fill dirt and landscaping is 20th I did find some wheats and a silver Washington around the perimeter of the site. Thanks for reminding me I havent hit it with the Deus yet

 

[against the wind]

I always try to find out if there are any restrictions first. If I can get someone in a city agency to say there are no restrictions in an email, I make that email my permit.

 

[GA_Boy]

If da Cops come I jump to my get-away-vehicle.
Marvin

 

[david680]

I'm glad you got out safe. Its always best to get permission first. Good luck in your future hunts!

I asked once about 20 odd years ago. Became obvious very quick that permission would require a act by the County Commissioners for a new ordinance. There are no restrictions here, hence the officer not being willing to tell me to leave. I've detected there a number of times before, but its best to do it early on a Sunday morning. Would almost bet it was business owners around the square who made the complaints.

 

[Loco-Digger]

I have purposely stayed away from court houses and county seats. There are way to many eyes on them. I only hunt during day light and mainly on permissions. I do hunt parks that are relatively empty, sports field complexes when games or practices are not scheduled. School only when not in session for the day. Just my preference, I also have some permission-ed wooded sites and fields to swing in when I am in the mood. So many places to go and be off the radar so-to-speak. You can hunt where you want. Being out here in small town USA the prospective locations are endless without having to hit sensitive sites.

 

[david680]

Sounds to me like You must have a very cool City there

I wouldn't in my wildest Dreams take it upon myself to detect around he County Courthouse here.
If I wouldn't be shot in the back by several cops within minutes,
I'd at least expect to be hauled across the street & Shoved behind bars in the already overcrowded Prison
never to see my detector again.
too many scared little bunnies in power these days

No not a Put down that you didn't ask first.
I'm just impressed with the Police officers reaction

congrats on the Key

Yeah, I've asked before. Apparently, no one is going to take the responsibility of giving permission. And yes, the officer was very cool. No smart*** there, he was totally professional.

 

[david680]

I have purposely stayed away from court houses and county seats. There are way to many eyes on them. I only hunt during day light and mainly on permissions. I do hunt parks that are relatively empty, sports field complexes when games or practices are not scheduled. School only when not in session for the day. Just my preference, I also have some permission-ed wooded sites and fields to swing in when I am in the mood. So many places to go and be off the radar so-to-speak. You can hunt where you want. Being out here in small town USA the prospective locations are endless without having to hit sensitive sites.

Generally, I hunt out of the way places too. Schools, fairgrounds, and parks are a go to when I can pretty much have them to myself. Bad thing about our courthouse, is that it has been hammered. Its not like they have kept everybody out.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

David, good post, and good in-puts so far. Sorry to hear about your "scram". Your situation has many variations and takes:
For starters, some people (as you can see from some replies here) consider court-house park lawns, to be in a different class than regular "parks". Because, by definition, "courthouses" are dealing with cops, lawyers, suit-&-tie people, and have an image of being the "town-center historic" district, etc... But technically, they are really nothing more than county parks, which happen to surround the courthouse.

.... the Sheriff's deputy showed up. Three different people were so alarmed at the vandalism I was committing.....

3 different people ? This indicates to me you went at high traffic times, and were perhaps just a magnet for lookie-lous ? Ie.: swatting hornet's nests ? You say yourself that the park has been worked hard over the years, and that even you yourself have hunted it often in the past w/o issue. Perhaps, as you say, like early Sunday AM's. Thus kind of like nose-picking: we all ... uh .... pick discreet times so as not to offend the squeemish.

Thus perhaps you can just pick a better lower traffic time. EVEN THE COP HIMSELF admitted that the only reason he was there, was 'cuz gripers called. Hence NOT something to go fight, get clarified, etc.... (lest you merely swat more hornet's nests and someone decides an arbitrary "no" to this "pressing issue")

 

[Bruce R]

Hmmm, courthouse lawn, I never considered that one, Thanks !

 

[Tommy G]

Had a similar situation in my county about 4 years ago. Someone was MDing on the courthouse lawn (no, not me!). A few people walking by went spastic over it, called the sheriff, the rescue squad, the fire department, and probably even the phone company and Comcast cable just to make sure all the bases were covered. The next week, a county ordinance was passed to prohibit MDing on county property. Our county seat location would make Mayberry look like Gotham City, so county officials like to take advantage of every opportunity to stir up some drama. Here's the really good part. Houses along the road in front of, and on either side of the courthouse are private property, with most of the housea dating around 1930. I've had several of the home owners give me permission to hunt their yards and I make a big show out of hunting right up next to the sidewalk, which itself is county property. At this point, I'm on a first name basis with every deputy sheriff in the county!

 

[Fletch88]

Had a similar situation in my county about 4 years ago. Someone was MDing on the courthouse lawn (no, not me!). A few people walking by went spastic over it, called the sheriff, the rescue squad, the fire department, and probably even the phone company and Comcast cable just to make sure all the bases were covered. The next week, a county ordinance was passed to prohibit MDing on county property. Our county seat location would make Mayberry look like Gotham City, so county officials like to take advantage of every opportunity to stir up some drama. Here's the really good part. Houses along the road in front of, and on either side of the courthouse are private property, with most of the housea dating around 1930. I've had several of the home owners give me permission to hunt their yards and I make a big show out of hunting right up next to the sidewalk, which itself is county property. At this point, I'm on a first name basis with every deputy sheriff in the county!

I have thought about trying ours at daylight on a Sunday morning but suspect there would be a swat team on me within 20 mins of the first lookie Lou driving by to get their morning paper! I just don't want to screw the whole area up as far as getting ALL public parks banned like you say happened in your town. I usually hunt any public place at daylight or shortly after dark 30 just so I do not draw attention from the "Mrs Kravitz" type people. Let's face it there is a public perception that we are robbing the place or digging giant holes everywhere no matter how well you recover targets.