This actually happened a few months ago for me but Ill share it since it technically could happen to anyone and cause problems.
I was hunting on a military installation, on the beach actually.
As usual, any trash I either dig up, or come across while Md'ing I pick up and throw out at the end of the day in one of the barrels. If it's beer cans, pop cans, etc i take em home and recycle them, aluminum is worth a decent amount around here. If it's other stuff, i dump it.
Anyways, I found a cigarette box half buried in the sand, so picked it up and shoved it into my apron in the trash half. One of the base police who happened to be on the beach, was there at the time, and we began talking. I explained to him how my detector works, what kind of stuff I find on the beaches, or well anywhere, and just chatting, and showing him the detector etc. I also explain to him that even though I know something is trash, Ill dig it anyways so I can throw it away and clean up the beach. Very shortly after I said this, I got a signal, and removed the earphones from the detector. I told him, hear this, hear how it's breaking up and has 'loud spots'... that means it's trash,Ill call it either tin foil or a rotten can. Did a pinpoint and then said, this ones probably about a foot down. At which point I dug it up and sure nuff, pulled out a can... half... ish... almost....
anyways.....
about 15 - 20 minutes later, its getting towards dark and time for me to leave, so we both walk to the parking lot, still talking and hit the garbage can. Here's where I say, ok let me get rid of the junk i pulled up. I grabbed the cigarette box and threw it at the trash can. Ok, NOW we know why I am metal detecting and not playing professional basketball, I missed very badly, the thing bounced off the side of the garbage can opened up and as it hit the ground, the contents of it did as well and it was a joint.
I stopped dead in my tracks, he got quiet. I said, umm.. he walked over picked it up, busted it open smelled it, looked at me and said, well somebody has been partying.
I then say, oh come on, you seen me pick it up, you KNOW it's not mine, ill pee in a bottle right now to prove it is not me. I was getting worried. He laughed and said oh dont' worry, I know it's not yours. Called a supervisor, who showed about 20 minutes later, they talked, and well.. that was about it.
Thing is.. what if he was NOT there and did NOT see me pick it up. What if for some reason they asked me hey, what's in the bag? I show them, and they find it then??
Just by picking up trash, this could have potentially turned into a very bad situation. Being military could have double #$%^$% ed me, but even on a regular beach, yah the cops could have a lot of fun with you if they choose to.
Bottom line, if you are picking up trash, that's a good and honorable thing to do, but be very careful to know exactly what it is that you are picking up, and if you happen to grab any 'containers' of any sorts... open them up to see what's in them first before you pocket them, because once you grab em, store em... for the purposes of the law... they are yours...
Aaron
I was hunting on a military installation, on the beach actually.
As usual, any trash I either dig up, or come across while Md'ing I pick up and throw out at the end of the day in one of the barrels. If it's beer cans, pop cans, etc i take em home and recycle them, aluminum is worth a decent amount around here. If it's other stuff, i dump it.
Anyways, I found a cigarette box half buried in the sand, so picked it up and shoved it into my apron in the trash half. One of the base police who happened to be on the beach, was there at the time, and we began talking. I explained to him how my detector works, what kind of stuff I find on the beaches, or well anywhere, and just chatting, and showing him the detector etc. I also explain to him that even though I know something is trash, Ill dig it anyways so I can throw it away and clean up the beach. Very shortly after I said this, I got a signal, and removed the earphones from the detector. I told him, hear this, hear how it's breaking up and has 'loud spots'... that means it's trash,Ill call it either tin foil or a rotten can. Did a pinpoint and then said, this ones probably about a foot down. At which point I dug it up and sure nuff, pulled out a can... half... ish... almost....
anyways.....
about 15 - 20 minutes later, its getting towards dark and time for me to leave, so we both walk to the parking lot, still talking and hit the garbage can. Here's where I say, ok let me get rid of the junk i pulled up. I grabbed the cigarette box and threw it at the trash can. Ok, NOW we know why I am metal detecting and not playing professional basketball, I missed very badly, the thing bounced off the side of the garbage can opened up and as it hit the ground, the contents of it did as well and it was a joint.
I stopped dead in my tracks, he got quiet. I said, umm.. he walked over picked it up, busted it open smelled it, looked at me and said, well somebody has been partying.
I then say, oh come on, you seen me pick it up, you KNOW it's not mine, ill pee in a bottle right now to prove it is not me. I was getting worried. He laughed and said oh dont' worry, I know it's not yours. Called a supervisor, who showed about 20 minutes later, they talked, and well.. that was about it.
Thing is.. what if he was NOT there and did NOT see me pick it up. What if for some reason they asked me hey, what's in the bag? I show them, and they find it then??
Just by picking up trash, this could have potentially turned into a very bad situation. Being military could have double #$%^$% ed me, but even on a regular beach, yah the cops could have a lot of fun with you if they choose to.
Bottom line, if you are picking up trash, that's a good and honorable thing to do, but be very careful to know exactly what it is that you are picking up, and if you happen to grab any 'containers' of any sorts... open them up to see what's in them first before you pocket them, because once you grab em, store em... for the purposes of the law... they are yours...
Aaron
Ivan
