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 Replies: 7 / Views: 9,700 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2424 Posts |
Ok,
so I know alot of you may or may not know if it's legal or illegal to detect at city parks or not, but I just got off the phone with the City of Oceanside Parks and Rec and asked if its illegal to metal detect at some city parks.. her response was, " You cannot destroy the property" at which I responded with , "im not, I'm digging a 6"x6" hole, and replacing it, as if I wasnt there... " well its a liability issue" ok, I understand, if somone trips and falls in the hole, but I am fixing it so there is no hole.. "still, its not a guarantee"
at that point I was redirected to the City's risk management office, which no one was there...
but the general consensus that I get is that it isn't illegal , as long as you replace the hole?
destruction of property is one thing.. its a broad definition and is pretty grey...
has anyone has success in reaching someone about this and got a clearer answer? I know vermontensium has had some luck with the county of Orange...
has anyone tried to detect at parks? or had an officer approach them?
i also mentioned to the lady that my dog likes to dig holes, what about that? she was speechless....lol
like I told her, its kind of a vague law....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
You will have to check local ordinances. I can hunt some but not all parks here where I live. Out of 8 parks 2 are off limits to metal detectors  . No one seems to know why, but the big "No Metal Detectors" signs at the gates tell it all. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
If it's not openly posted that detecting is prohibited, I gofer it. I have not once in 4 years had anyone say anything to me, and I've hit every single park in my area, which amounts to dozens.
If you ask for permission, you give an official that otherwise had never considered the question a chance to say no. I called several parks when I first started and they told me that no one had ever called before to ask permission. They told me that people just "did it".
Some parks you must first pay for a daily permit. Nothing like that around here. Check city and township websites for details.
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Valued Member
United States
156 Posts |
You want to make sure that your coinshooting doesn't cross the boundary into looting. Activities that are okay at the beach in Oceanside would get you into hot water at Rancho Guajome county park.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
Quote:
You want to make sure that your coinshooting doesn't cross the boundary into looting. Activities that are okay at the beach in Oceanside would get you into hot water at Rancho Guajome county park. Buzzard, can you elaborate? I "loot" the parks all the time and never have any problems. Obviously, if the park is posted prohibiting metal detecting or digging and removing artifacts, you'd be asking for trouble. When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Valued Member
United States
325 Posts |
not for nothing but I would never tell a city government employee that I'm only digging a 6" x 6" hole in a park.
geez, to them that's a bomb crater.
It's better to do what fistfulladirt does and go for it.
A word of advice, use a screwdriver to pop your find out of the ground instead of digging a hole. There are parks here in sunny floriduh where the folks living around them have nothing better to do than watch you through binoculars and call the police about someone creating holes.
Good luck,
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Valued Member
United States
156 Posts |
Fistfulladirt, Rancho Guajome park is a National Historic Landmark located just east of Oceanside. Metal detecting on any government-owned historic property can get you into trouble. While finding a Kennedy half at a beach or playground won't get you into any trouble, digging up a Barber half at an historic site on federal property is a violation of the Antiquities Act of 1906. While prosecutions for looting are rare, they do occur. Stick to looking for modern coins in modern contexts when you are on government land. |
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Valued Member
United States
156 Posts |
Wow, I just read what I wrote and it sounds so arrogant. Let me try again...
Be careful, have fun, and remember that when you find the good stuff, you want to have the landowner's permission.
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Replies: 7 / Views: 9,700 |
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Posted 03/25/2012 10:26 am
