it only takes ONE---- and I found one total #*^@%$&

[WaterScoop]

.... But IMHO, it's often-time going to go against your favor, and over-looks other options.

Strength in numbers ..get enough people within our hobby to be involved in your cause and begin by showing up to one of their city council meetings . Pose the question directly to them and if they say it’s OK because there is no city ordinance then they will have a record of their meeting you can site to this person who gives you trouble. Sometimes doing what is right involves a little more hard work.

Here is a good article that talks about strength in numbers. It’s about class action however it cointains other information that proves the strength in numbers concept.

https://www.kiplinger.com/article/spending/T037-C000-S002-6-things-you-must-know-about-class-action-lawsuits.html

 

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[Tom_in_CA]

... Strength in numbers ..get enough people within our hobby to be involved in your cause and begin by showing up to one of their city council meetings ....

Or it could turn out to be "defeat in #'s". The more people start showing with this "pressing issue", then the more they might be inclined to INVENT a rule, to address that pressing issue. Because, let's be dreadfully honest : MD'ing has connotations. That you might be about to find something, leave a hole, harm earthworms, etc....

Sure: IF NECESSARY (no other options to get in there to hunt), then perhaps.

.... Sometimes doing what is right involves a little more hard work.....

And why can't the advice that I suggested be "doing what is right ?". Or put another way: How is it *wrong* to avoid a singular busy-body, if that is the only person in a town of 50k or 100k who "cares less" ? Sure you might convince that singular person to love and adore you (or throw up his arms in defeat, etc...). But why fight battles that aren't necessary, if there's other options ?

 

[WaterScoop]

Tom_in_CA I apologize if you thought that my advice was in any way contradictory to what you posted. I agree with you fully that it could backfire. However if done right and the gentleman goes to a city council meeting by himself as another citizen first and is strategic about asking his question about our hobby in general and states that he likes to explore the history of local town for research then I think he might have a great chance. I do agree with you that going into the meeting with pitchfork and torches will have a negative effect.

Nevertheless my signature block says it best you will miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

My advice was just another point of view ...honestly not a dig at your advice at all.

Cheers

Waterscoop

 

[Tom_in_CA]

The best thing for the OP to do here is as Tom said - go back at a different time and try to avoid that person seeing you. It is probably illegal to hunt on any public property ( unless there is wording stating it is okay ) IF the person in charge of that property interprets the rules to mean no metal detecting. The thing to do is to not put them in a position of interpreting the rules. Besides going at low traffic and off-hours it is good to look low profile. No shovels,find pouches,knee pads ect.

Stay-hidden, I see it's your first post. Welcome to T'net. Yes: As you say , it *is* boiling down to person's interpretations of gray area verbiage. The touble is: The very next city person could say: "Sure ! go ahead ! Have a ball !". Hence FAR from being "cut & dried", it can sometimes depend on who's having a bad hair day.

Therefore I try to avoid that Russian roulette game as much as possible

 

[WaterScoop]

Find out the persons schedule and go when they are not there. The person giving you problems Being a civil servant something tells me that they get weekends and National holidays off...

 

[Honest Samuel]

Complain to their boss, if unhappy, complain to the police chief and or the mayor. Good hunting and good luck.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Complain to their boss, if unhappy, complain to the police chief and or the mayor....

Sure. Make a national stink about it, if need be, eh ? Or ... avoid the issue entirely : Avoid the one person, in his entire town, who made an issue.

 

[port ewen ace]

I walked the entire "manicured" lawn Thursday-- shooting 10 minutes of video of the over 200 holes dug there. lights in Mr. Bill's office were on-- coulda' been hidin' under the desk. the mega hole I dug when he complained has apparently left town on the Trailways Bus---- LORDY_________ it ain't there no mo'.

this ain't over--- and fat ladies sing daily in Woodstock.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

... the mega hole I dug when he complained has apparently left town on the Trailways Bus---- LORDY_________ it ain't there no mo'.....

Then if there's no evidence of your holes, then his gripe of holes is un-founded. Will you convince him of that ? Probably not. So why beat your brains out ?

The title of your post is very "telling" : That it "...only takes one person [to gripe] ...". Ok , I see that your town's population, according to wiki, is about 6,000. Right ? Then out of 6000 people, he's potentially the only one that cares, right ? Then why can't you go when there's no light on in his office, thus indicating he's not there ?

 

[Duckshot]

Tom and Waterscoop do make a good point. There's a times when you gotta play it cool. So next time you see Mr. McKenna while detecting play it cool.

If they give you a sneer just smile and wave. If the police are called, be courteous and polite. Don't offer the cops any information they don't need to know. The worst they could do is nail you for misdemeanor disorderly conduct. You can beat that no sweat. You didn't damage any property so they can't claim vandalism. No victim no crime.

If the judge upholds the citation, you can always volunteer for community service. You know, "picking up trash". Bring your detector.

 

[Honest Samuel]

You all can be all wimps and cowards and run when some fool with a badge tell you to move on. There may be some silver and maybe gold on the land where you are running from. Stand up for your rights.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

You all can be all wimps and cowards and run when some fool with a badge tell you to move on....

If the goal and objective is "find more cool old coins", then .... Sure: I'll be a "wimp and a coward". Whatever amounts in the least friction, and gives me the most amount of hours hunting the best possible spots

 

[Honest Samuel]

Read # 75.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Read # 75.

Right: And what's the best way to attain that "silver and gold" ? Is it to "stand up for yourself against those fools with badges"? When you could loose the debate of semantics and be swatting hornet's nests ? Or to avoid the singular griper ?

 

[port ewen ace]

need help on how to post the video I took with the Canon digital-- they are MVI files

a tally of the finds:
1853 Trime
.78 Troy ounce sterling 1896 spoon
21 gram Italian silver bracelet- Fratelli Coppini
1917 SLQ
1899 Barber qtr
7 Barber dimes
5 Mercs
4 Rosies
1951-D qtr
1909-S VDB wheat in hole with '10, '11 & '14 wheats ( with MAJOR env. damage from pine tar)
another few dozen EARLY wheats
1865 2 Cent
2 brass over lead horse rosettes
1812 LC
1835 LC
3" saddle cinch buckle
1835-1840 Jones 2 piece button
2 musket balls
assorted 2 & 3 ring bullets
2 Merry Widow condom tins
2 Elcaya cosmetic creme milk glass lids
brass buggy pole tip
1904 IHP
1899 IHP
31MM unknown Colonial copper
assorted 1900's fashion jewelry--pins
1 BUFF
Chi'en Lung Chinese cash coin 1736-1794
3" brass covered clock case
ornate brass gilt pocket watch surround
"Cross" gilt 2 piece button
3 pound horse shoe-- after cleaning
dozens of copper Lincolns & a few bucks in CRAD

ALL TRASH was removed and placed in TRASH CANS

youze be da judge & jury---------

do I stay _____________________or do I go

 

[Duckshot]

Cripes Man!

Don't tell Billy.

And my advice is you don't go public. Keep it between you, Billy, and the legal system should Billy choose that route. Let him hit you first, don't hit back until they are done trying to hurt you.

The thing is most people don't metal detect, you are currently a minority. Many people have been accused of wrongdoing for no just reason. Those are the kind that might support you should it become public.

You know you are almost certainly correct. Now you just gotta be smart going about it. Remember, right now as far as you know there has been only one complaint. One on one is a fair fight.

 

[fmerg]

rich you need to upload the video to youtube then look at the address of the video
when you have the address you can post the link using the video insert ...like this

 

[pepperj]

If asked to leave I left, I ask why, and what their name is politely for future reference. Then I find out who is in charge ask permission if granted that trumps the first person.
Got kicked out of a park in Bradenton FL by a cop, told me to detect in the expropriated lands down the way. Cop drove up on me told me to go dig in the park I told him the story of the rude encounter of the cop in the park-he pulled his card and told me to hand it to the next cop if I'm bothered, "Now go dig in the park-with have a good day and best of luck".
So lots of times the one that's doing the kicking doesn't know the rules of the game.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Fmerg : you can assemble all the videos, and all the proof that you want. To show that our hobby does no ultimate harm to the turf. Ie.: that we leave no trace of our presence.

But I'm afraid it's going to fall on deaf ears many times. They will see you poking and prodding the ground, and that's all they need to get images of Geeks with shovels. Why beat your brains debating semantics? Sure, if HAVE to. But if a singular lookie-Lou can be avoided, that seems like the better route.

PepperJ: yes occasionally a cop or city person can say "yes" . And even give you their business card and name. But just be aware, that there are ample stories of this going awry: Another cop or park worker accosts you. You whip out your "permission ". The griper gets on his cell phone and calls down to city hall, or whatever. And says "but he's tearing the place up". Which isn't true, of course. Guess what happens to your permission?

Yes, a "yes" is certainly much more comforting. And yes it will deflect some looky-loos. But I would still not choose high traffic times and push luck. Because we are in a hobby of multiple implications and connotations.

 

[Honest Samuel]

Tom, it would be safer for you to pick blueberries and leave the treasure hunting to the rest of us.