Harassed by the Police tonight...

[Tom_in_CA]

Old Town, I had to chuckle when I read your tactic I think that ..... uh ...... might be going a bit too far though. I'd be afraid someone would actually look to see who it was who issued the letter, and perhaps such a "letter" could be debunked, on the spot?

But it reminded me of an incident I had: I got harrassed by an MP (military police) at a military base near me. It didn't have to do with metal detecting, per se. It was more to do with the part of the base I was at, where I had parked at (an off-limits lot or some such bologna, etc...) and ..... well the long story short is, it ended up I had to go talk to his supervisor the next day, to straighten it out. This guy I was sent to talk to, was an elderly guy, just shy of retirement. He got that side issue straightened out (as I said, it didn't have specifically to do with md'ing, although he did mention he had no problem with it). He gave me his business card, and told me that if I ever had a problem again, to let me know. Turns out, he was a sergent major (which is a fairly high rank). I held on to that card for awhile, for no particular reason. Later, I learned that this old friendly fellow had passed away. Ever since then, if I ever run into any problems, at any other military base, I just pull out that card, and let them know that this person saw no problem with "casual detecting" (which was true, by the way, so ..... I'm just conveniently enlargening it to apply to more military places). Whenever I show this card to any military busy-bodies, and they see the rank, they just back away, and let me continue! Although I doubt anyone even knows anymore who this fellow is, even if they DID try to research out this supposed permission, it's bullet proof, since this fellow is now passed away (and thus my permission must've pre-dated that.)

Lastly, I have heard of persons, who when they get questioned or harrassed by authority in public places, simply alert the busy-body that they are looking for the boy-scout ring their father lost there when their dad was a kid. And wouldn't you know it, my dad lost a LOT of boyscout rings, at a lot of places, back when he was a kid.

 

[nova]

What jeff said!

 

[Truffleshuffle]

I don;t know how long ago you did the fake paperwork and forgeries but I defently don;t think anyone should try. If you were caught you could have been facing alot of time behind bars possiably

 

[Saturna]

Tom in CA, I've used a version of the paper trick twice in my life and both times it worked on cops.

I remember reading one of those books where the guy rode a motorcycle around the world, and he mentions one part where he was turned away from some border in Africa because he didn't have some stamp on his passport.
He went away and carved one on a potato, and stamped his passport. They let him through.

It's not about security or laws with these guys.

It's all about whose the big man with the power & control.

 

[Old Town]

I just got back from spending 6 weeks in Massachusetts where I've purchased a summer home on the water. One of my new neighbors is my age and cast in the same mold. He told me of using green maple leaves trimmed into a square shape and taped to his auto's windshield for an inspection sticker back when the Mass. inspection stickers were dark green. This guy told me his car would not pass the inspection and so they rejected him. But Mother Nature did not. He used a leaf and changed it regularly because, as he told me, they didn't go to red and orange stickers in the fall.

This made me laugh till I choked.

OT

 

[Truffleshuffle]

With a name like Truffleshuffle I have to think you might be a truffle pig? Don't worry officer, while you're rooting around for fungi, I'm three steps ahead of you.

OT

Actual Its from a movie about treasure hunting! As I said though Its not worth Going to jail or prision.

 

[dogpound]

when i hunt schools i like to bring my 8 yr. old daughter with me...i just tell people its her detector and i'm showin her how ta use it (i do let her dig up my finds).......no one wants ta look like a jerk by tellin an 8 yr. old girl to get off the property...... next i'll see if that trick works at federal parks

 

[jeff of pa]

when i hunt schools i like to bring my 8 yr. old daughter with me...i just tell people its her detector and i'm showin her how ta use it (i do let her dig up my finds).......no one wants ta look like a jerk by tellin an 8 yr. old girl to get off the property...... next i'll see if that trick works at federal parks

HaHa Good one !

The feds will arrest a 5 Year old.

Look how many Kindergarten kids
get arrested for Toy squirt Guns

 

[BIG61AL]

Get written permission to hunt on public property that has no posted signs about metal detecting Ask the cops to site the law to get written permission to be be in a public park. Do you need writtern permission to use the playground equipment? How about using your legs to walk through the park - do you need permission for that too? Cops are just giant egos with guns who think they can decide everything for everybody. They forget they are supposed to uphold the laws not make up crap laws when they feel like it.

 

[Old Town]

Get written permission to hunt on public property that has no posted signs about metal detecting Ask the cops to site the law to get written permission to be be in a public park. Do you need writtern permission to use the playground equipment? How about using your legs to walk through the park - do you need permission for that too? Cops are just giant egos with guns who think they can decide everything for everybody. They forget they are supposed to uphold the laws not make up crap laws when they feel like it.

I'm with you, Al. Trouble is the police have sticks and guns and can pig-pile you and cart you away for the hell of it. This is no good for anyone and tends to mess up your day's detecting. Since you can't out-fight them, and you sure can't reason with them, this only leaves out-witting the steroid-juiced, head-shaved, tatoo covered abusers of small dogs. Remember, they are cops because it's the highest paying job a poorly educated half-wit can get in the United States who has no other marketable skill.

I've said it before, they ain't that bright. The paper trick works and it's damned good sport.

OT

 

[cellar dweller]

I think the bottom lie here is "Its heart wrenching" Its what we do, its what we love. Posts like think really make me feel for my peers, the diggers, the hobby.

 

[dogpound]

isn't that why i pay school tax..for the right to use the school grounds. I'm sure some nosey neighbor just didn't like someone walkin around with a sharp trowel in their hand and made the call, atleast the cop didn't think that trowel was a weapon and taze ya . i really like the fake permission slip idea

 

[coinshooter]

How come nobody ever just writes out a paper?
I give _________ permission to hunt this property.

Signed __________ Sign some illegible name

Done.

You can use it on multiple sites. If you ever get harrased. Pull it out of your wallet.
If they take it, just write up another.

Done.

 

[Old Town]

This is exactly what I've been talking about. Only I make it fancy. Fancy is always better.

 

[jeff of pa]

How come nobody ever just writes out a paper?
I give _________ permission to hunt this property.

Signed __________ Sign some illegible name

Done.

You can use it on multiple sites. If you ever get harrased. Pull it out of your wallet.
If they take it, just write up another.

Done.

although perhaps in some occasions
it may work,

I Can also see others,
Like perhaps a Town or School Secretery,
Grounds Keeper, town Cop, Borough worker, etc.
who may say "Yea Go ahaed "


who would think "On second Thought "

If asked to put their Name (Maybe Reputation)
on the line.

and if they push you to their Superior,
it may cost you a Site For the same or other reason.
just by Pushing the issue

 

[Bev]

Maybe you could say something offical like, "oh John said it's okay as long as I turn in anything that looks to have been involved in a crime." First, you have a good shot at someone important being named John, and it sounds so absolutely stupid that they may not even argue! Make it sound like your recited it from memory, maybe looks up like you're trying to remember the exact words...

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Bev, I knew a guy who used to always hunt old town urban demolition sites. He'd just wait till the workers cut out for the day, and help himself. He said that if anyone ever questioned him, he'd tell them that the "other guy who was here awhile ago, said it was ok". And if the person persisted, by asking who this other person was, he'd say "wearing a hard hat, blue jeans, and drove off in a truck". Because when you think of it, that describes EVERYbody who works at a const. site, right? The worst that would ever happen then, is the objector might say "well I don't know who that was, but I say to scram". So he'd just leave, if so.

The same fellow told me that if ever he got harrassed at schools, parks, or any public place, he was "looking for the boyscout ring his dad lost there when his dad was a kid". Oddly, he said that a lot of times, their demeanor turned positive, upbeat, and they'd wish him luck and let him continue.

Example: There's a certain bay in Hawaii, that supposedly doesn't allow detectors underwater (something to do with the fragile protected sea-life, etc...). Yet if your read the minutia carefully, it exempts persons commissioned to find something specific that was lost. So ...... what's to stop your wife from "loosing" her ring? And of course, you know it will take all day to find it, as she wasn't exactly sure where she lost it, etc....

 

[slowNsteady]

Bev, I knew a guy who used to always hunt old town urban demolition sites. He'd just wait till the workers cut out for the day, and help himself. He said that if anyone ever questioned him, he'd tell them that the "other guy who was here awhile ago, said it was ok". And if the person persisted, by asking who this other person was, he'd say "wearing a hard hat, blue jeans, and drove off in a truck". Because when you think of it, that describes EVERYbody who works at a const. site, right? The worst that would ever happen then, is the objector might say "well I don't know who that was, but I say to scram". So he'd just leave, if so.

That was funny! Could come in handy sometime.

 

[Old Town]

I think Bev has potential. She's got the right idea.

OT

 

[centfladigger]

did we ever figure out who the guy in the car was and what he wanted?