Any fellow detectorists in or near Enfield Connecticut?

[Zman0930]

I'm trying to get info on the laws/permission requirements for detecting at schools and playgrounds in town. Town Hall not particularly helpful.

 

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[cudamark]

It should be written down somewhere in the town bylaws. If not, as in silent on the subject, it's not prohibited. If might be posted online, but, it would be on file at the county courthouse, or town equivalent. Look it up yourself rather than ask some biased government employee. Lots of school security rules have changed recently around the country, so, anything new might not be posted yet. My rule of thumb is, (1) after school hours only, (2) If locked up, leave for somewhere else, (3) If open and not posted otherwise, I hunt it. You might get a scram, but, very unlikely anything beyond that.

 

[Zman0930]

Thank you. We'll give it a try this weekend.

 

[Clay Diggins]

All that the Connecticut Simple Trespass infraction charge under CGS 53a-110a requires is that you enter the public or private property without permission, and do not exhibit any intent or conduct to damage anything while you are trespassing.

Enfield has loitering laws and no damage to public property laws like any other town.

Neither of those charges would land you in jail by themselves. The point being that just about every town has a way to fine you for being somewhere they don't like at the moment. You detect, you dig and you take your chances just like anywhere else. You say you have gotten resistance from the town officials, take that as a warning that you might be more likely to get flak for detecting in Enfield.

Don't fall for the "hunt it at night" crowd. It's a crime in Enfield to be on public property after 9 p.m. unless the lot is marked with a different closing time.

Make friends and don't make a mess and you might be fine. Just don't think that since there is no specific law against metal detecting that you then have a "right" to detect - it just ain't so.

 

[Zman0930]

Thank you for the reply. Much appreciated.

 

[cudamark]

All that the Connecticut Simple Trespass infraction charge under CGS 53a-110a requires is that you enter the public or private property without permission, and do not exhibit any intent or conduct to damage anything while you are trespassing.

Enfield has loitering laws and no damage to public property laws like any other town.

Neither of those charges would land you in jail by themselves. The point being that just about every town has a way to fine you for being somewhere they don't like at the moment. You detect, you dig and you take your chances just like anywhere else. You say you have gotten resistance from the town officials, take that as a warning that you might be more likely to get flak for detecting in Enfield.

Don't fall for the "hunt it at night" crowd. It's a crime in Enfield to be on public property after 9 p.m. unless the lot is marked with a different closing time.

Make friends and don't make a mess and you might be fine. Just don't think that since there is no specific law against metal detecting that you then have a "right" to detect - it just ain't so.

If there are no laws against detecting, how could they prosecute you for doing it?

 

[Clay Diggins]

If there are no laws against detecting, how could they prosecute you for doing it?

I never even suggested you could be prosecuted for detecting?

Are you on the right thread cuda?

 

[cudamark]

If you can't be prosecuted for detecting because there are no laws against it, then you DO have the right to do it. Our law system is set up to tell you what you can't do, not the other way around. We have inherent rights, not ones granted by government.

 

[Honest Samuel]

Welcome, I live near Bridgeport. Keep searching on public lands until the police tell not to. Good hunting and good luck.

 

[DiggerCam]

I metal detect around Southeastern CT and I don't usually have issues with hunting public school grounds (Only on weekends or when school is out of course) or parks (Only town owned). Just make sure you leave the area clean and take any trash with you and dispose it properly. I also make sure not to trespass on private or state property.