Is township property public property?

[Skoivu]

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An old local church has been taken over from a private resident for not bringing it to code. It is scheduled to be demolished soon. My question is if its public property now that it is owned by the township?

 

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[Tom_in_CA]

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An old local church has been taken over from a private resident for not bringing it to code. It is scheduled to be demolished soon. My question is if its public property now that it is owned by the township?

I have seen examples of plots of land, buildings, etc.... here in my state fit that scenario too. For example: A building, or vacant lot has been in the same family for 3 or 4 generations (since the turn of the century). But the side of town has become so blighted and derelict, that the boarded up building gets to the point where it would NEVER pay to re-open whatever businesses were there. Or the vacant lot would never pay to think you could build anything on the property. The area has basically become a skid-row. So the descendants (who now perhaps don't even live in the area anymore), become disgusted with even paying property taxes on it, nor would anyone else want to buy it. So one day, one year, they just stop paying property taxes on it. The city comes in eventually, and takes over the property for lack of tax-payment. Now it's essentially city property.

To answer your question, I do not hesitate to hunt it during that time (like if the building gets demolished, those are always the best spots, since they're in the oldest parts of town )

Now I suppose you'll have other person's say that ... yes ... it's city property (and thus "public"), but yet however, this merely means you must go ask the city "can I metal detect there?". But I would take a different approach this: Turn it around the other way, and instead of thinking you need "express permission", instead, check to see if there's any prohibitions (specifically saying "no metal detectors") in city muni. codes. If not, then .... to me, you don't need permission for something to which there's no prohibitions. City laws, muni codes, etc.... are usually on the city website. Presto, just do a key word search there.

You can certainly go asking at city hall, if you want. But after your question gets passed back and forth between various desk-bound clerks, you may just get a "no", when ...... truth be told ...... no one may ever have cared or noticed.

 

[Frankn]

Probably only the demolition costs belong to the public. lol If it is not posted, why don't you just hunt it. If any one asks, just tell them you are doing an archeological survey before the demolition.

 

[ticm]

Probably only the demolition costs belong to the public. lol If it is not posted, why don't you just hunt it. If any one asks, just tell them you are doing an archeological survey before the demolition.<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=663623"/>

Don't tell them that. Tell them you are retrieving a cache that you buried as a child

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Don't tell them that. Tell them you are retrieving a cache that you buried as a child

I lost my boyscout ring there when I was a kid, didn't you too?

 

[Moonrover]

I've heard this advice before: Wear a yellow hard hat and traffic vest. Be seen, be noticed, and be ignored.

Happy hunting.

Sent from my iPad using TreasureNet app

 

[kayden]

Don't tell them that. Tell them you are retrieving a cache that you buried as a child

LOL...I fell from chair...LMAO!

 

[merryja]

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An old local church has been taken over from a private resident for not bringing it to code. It is scheduled to be demolished soon. My question is if its public property now that it is owned by the township?

I think township property is public property.

 

[ticndig]

around here public property really means government property in which you have no right to dig . if you look at the local code for your area, metal detecting or even disturbing the dirt may be looked at as an evil forbidden act.

legal codes for cities and counties are easy to find on the net . sure beats going to court for a trespassing charge.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

What has our country come to?!

 

[Noah_D]

I have been wondering the same thing... I live real close to an old town hall that still belongs to the township. I've tried to contact the township and find any laws on it but I've come up empty handed.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Well, even if it is public property that would mean everything you find belongs to the public. So how do you divvy it up evenly?

Federal courtrooms are "public property". But just try and walk into one in session and start taking things out the door.

 

[Madmox]

Well, even if it is public property that would mean everything you find belongs to the public. So how do you divvy it up evenly?

Federal courtrooms are "public property". But just try and walk into one in session and start taking things out the door.

Though laws in different areas vary, finders keepers laws generally do exist, even on public property. So the above statement is not directly true. Something being on public property does not mean it has also become public property. Otherwise your car would become public property any time you parked it on the street. Or any change dropped on the street would become private property as soon as it touched the ground and thus ceased being yours and you could not pick it back up and put it back in your pocket legally.

I mean....something ridiculous I outlined above would in no way surprise me if it was passed into law in California. Not in the least.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Town land is public land, period. The land was purchased with YOUR tax dollars, so you and everyone else has a right to use it. As long as it passive recreation, no one should care.

 

[ticndig]

people with the theory that you have a right to dig on public land should go to Washington and hunt the Whitehouse grounds or at least your local courthouse lawn. While it is public property there are rules and laws that are enforced. Across the street from me is a 16200 acre state forest , you can kill game , fish and ride a horse but you better not get caught metal detecting.

 

[Mackaydon]

I think I would be trespassing on property that is not mine in the absence of permission to dig.
Don.......

 

[teleprospector]

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An old local church has been taken over from a private resident for not bringing it to code. It is scheduled to be demolished soon. My question is if its public property now that it is owned by the township?

Well what happened? This was over 8 YRS AGO! lol
Jon