Oregon Laws??

[diger]

Hi I'm new to the forum and metal detecting I was wondering if it is legal to detect in public parks in oregon I cant seem to find any laws on it

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[Tom_in_CA]

You need to be specific. Do you mean state parks? county parks? or city parks?

If you meant state level parks, there's been several persons over the years, that have done state-by-state guides on the subject (so a person merely needs to go down the alphabetic list, and read how the state park's dept. responded to the inquiry). For example, the FMDAC has one such list, and here's what it says about Oregon's state parks:

Oregon http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/index.shtml

Can I use my metal detector in a park? Metal detecting may or may not be allowed, depending on the park. It's always best to call the park to check whether you can use your metal detector. If metal detecting is allowed, you'll need a permit, which is available directly from the park where you wish to use your metal detector. Some parks are unstaffed, so to locate the closest park office to the park you're interested in, call 1-800-551-6949, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

And such is the answer for many of the states, where the answer goes something like this "inquire at each kiosk you come to". The reason for this is simple: there are some parks that are obviously historical sacred monuments, and others (simple innocuous beaches, modern ball diamonds, etc...) where no one cares. So what's the simple answer? Either "no", or "inquire at each one". The trouble then becomes, that persons often get "no's" when they inquire at each kiosk, (the safe answer), when in fact, no one ever cared (before people started asking).

But skipping ahead to county and city level parks, most everywhere, across the USA, it is never addressed at these levels. Ie.: it is silent on the issue, unless you were a nuisance falling afoul of something else: leaving a mess, waltzing over beach blankets, etc.... If you are skittish, look it up for yourself in the city or county's website (muni codes and park rules are usually available on their website. Do a key word search under variations of "metal detectors" "...ing", etc... If it is silent on the issue, then so be it. No need to ask. Just use obvious discretion, and don't be a sore-thumb magnet for busy-bodies who might make assumptions. Because we're in an odd-hobby that draws the stares of the curious, unfortunately.

I had a friend who lived in OR and WA area for many years. He travelled extensivelly throughout all the small towns and backroads, and never had a problem stopping to hit any park or school he felt inclined to. Oh sure, now and then in a blue-moon, you might have a busy-body gripe, but you just give lip service, and avoid just that one person or park in the future.

 

[diger]

Thanks for the help. I mean City parks!

 

[dpitt8]

which part of oregon? local parks and rec department is usually the best place to start.

 

[Tuberale]

Having lived and hunted many Oregon park areas, it really is up to the city involved. In Portland, most parks are under jurisdiction of the Portland Parks and Recreation Bureau. I've never been asked to leave a park here, but I'm careful to remove any trash I come across, surface or otherwise. And I try not to leave any noticeable diggings. I don't cut plugs, but instead use a screwdriver to cut a flap in the sod, and pry the coin or object out. If you treat the city parks the same way you'd treat your lawn (or maybe better) you likely won't have problems.

That said, some cities may have different regulations. Best to ask if you don't know. City police are a good source of information. And if they know you have a detector, they may ask your help in locating something for them in the future.

 

[diger]

I live in Pendleton OR and I was thinking about detecting Helix park and some of the local places. About what Tuberale said I was wondering if I could use a small hand shovel to find the object?
Thanks

 

[Tuberale]

I'd ask about digging in Helix Park. Just me.

I like to let others see me and size me up before saying yeah or nay. Many Native Americans are understandably sensitive about hunting near ancestral burials. As I would not have Native Americans digging my ancestors up, I would not knowingly disturb theirs.

Had a great-uncle who was early legal counsel for the Umatilla Reservation not far from you. You might, as a courtesy, ask the tribal elders if there are known burials in Helix Park.

 

[Sandman]

For state parks you can check out this site. http://www.fmdac.org/parks/parks.htm

I have found to ask for permission from city officials usually gets a direct NO even when there is no rule or policy against it. Better to go enjoy yourself unless you see a rule against it. Don't ask........ Best to not dig any holes which could be deemed damage to the park. Use a screw driver to pop the coins out so to leave the area like it was before. Carry out all the trash you dig up too.

Tom of CA should pop in here with more reasons why not to ask as the land is tax payer land.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

With all due respect for tuberale, it's one thing to "ask" (Ie.: "can I metal detect?"), but oh ... uh .... NOT a good idea to ask about "digging" ("can I dig with a such & such type of shovel?")

I don't know of ANY park in the USA, of ANY level of govt, that's going to tell you "oh sure, have a blast, go ahead and dig in the park". I mean, sheesk, be sure to show up with a shovel in your hand at city hall desk, lest they not get the full implication, eh?

Unfortunately, the word "dig" (yes, even with nothing but probing for shallow surface clad with a screwdriver) will conjur up immediate images of unfilled scars, etc... to some deskbound bureaucrat And there is always verbage about "defacement" and "vandalism" in ANY muni code. But notice that "defacement" and "vandalism" clauses imply end results (ie.: the way you LEAVE it). So why put those implications in other's hands, that you might be some sort of ding-bat and leave scars, damage, etc....? YOU know you won't, so why isn't that good enough?? Of course, pick low traffic off-hours times, and don't be a sore thumb, etc....

And again, if you are skittish that there might be some sort of no md'ing rule, that isn't on the wooden sign at the entrance of the park, look it up on the city's website. Most cities have websites nowadays, with their muni codes and regulations there. If it is silent on the issue, then so be it! If the city doesn't have a website, then another method is to go to city hall, and the city charter, laws, rules, codes, etc.... are usually available on the front desk in book/binder form (d/t it's public information).

 

[Korban]

I lived in La Grande Oregon for about 8 years, which in not far from Pendleton. I never had a problem with detecting parks. I would think pendleton would have some good finds given its history. Unless its a state park or something, id just do it. should be some really tiny places and old schools and school houses that would be fun to hunt.

 

[Daedalus]

You have to take care in getting this data. I have called and been told by the parks department that it is ok to Detect in the parks, only to have the police come an hour later and make me leave.
You have to get it written and signed on paper to be safe . Now I know this will not happen at all parks and City's . But I have been asked to leave many times and when I told the officers that I was given permission to detect they threatened me with a ticket for asking .

So take care as this is getting to be more of an issue around the country . In the State I am in now there are no parks that we can hunt in .

 

[diger]

Hey thanks guys for all the help I'm not sure when I can go but I hope soon
Might post back if I find anything!!!

 

[McClod]

Being new to metal detecting, and living in the Portland area I have been doing much research lately to find out where I can go metal detecting without fear of breaking some law. So today, June 26, 2013 I called Portland Parks and Recreation ((503) 823-7529) and spoke to them about it and was told it is ok as long as certain stipulations are met.

Park property can not be destroyed (obviously) and that everything must be put back in good condition so that there are no holes and grass is not torn up. Shovels not allowed but when I described to her the lesche type tool we use and how it is used to cut a small plug ¾ circle then flip back the grass, place any dirt removed from the hole and placed on a towel so it can all be placed back in the hole without leaving a mess, she said that is fine.

I also found a link to a list of all Portland parks , on Wikipedia, which is great, Here is the link: List of parks in Portland, Oregon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also there is a Park Finder link on Portland Parks & Recreation Website: Find A Park/Facility | The City of Portland, Oregon

I also was told by the Oregon City parks that it is ok to MD in their parks, same rules as above, I emailed the Oregon City park a request, and a photo of my lesche tool and explained the method of digging a plug as I mentioned above and was told fine.

I also emailed Clackamas County parks and they replied with a quote of their regulation that in short says NO Metal Detecting!

I hope this helps. Now that I've got the "green light" on the parks I hope to start finding some cool stuff for a change!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Being new to metal detecting, and living in the Portland area I have been doing much research lately to find out where I can go metal detecting without fear of breaking some law. So today, June 26, 2013 I called Portland Parks and Recreation ((503) 823-7529) and spoke to them about it and was told it is ok as long as certain stipulations are met.

Park property can not be destroyed (obviously) and that everything must be put back in good condition so that there are no holes and grass is not torn up. Shovels not allowed but when I described to her the lesche type tool we use and how it is used to cut a small plug ¾ circle then flip back the grass, place any dirt removed from the hole and placed on a towel so it can all be placed back in the hole without leaving a mess, she said that is fine.

I also found a link to a list of all Portland parks , on Wikipedia, which is great, Here is the link: List of parks in Portland, Oregon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also there is a Park Finder link on Portland Parks & Recreation Website: Find A Park/Facility | The City of Portland, Oregon

I also was told by the Oregon City parks that it is ok to MD in their parks, same rules as above, I emailed the Oregon City park a request, and a photo of my lesche tool and explained the method of digging a plug as I mentioned above and was told fine.

I also emailed Clackamas County parks and they replied with a quote of their regulation that in short says NO Metal Detecting!

I hope this helps. Now that I've got the "green light" on the parks I hope to start finding some cool stuff for a change!

McClod, so what you're saying is, that you got two "yes's" and one "no". And the "no" was backed up by an actual specific/real rule that said "no metal detecting". Right?

All I can say about those two that said 'sure, go ahead', is the following points:

a) Had you already looked up those two cities codes, to see if there was anything that said "no detecting"? Obviously there's nothing that says that, as attested by the fact that you got a "yes", afterall. right? So .... then what would have stopped you from simply looking that up in city muni codes, and park rules, for yourself? I mean, if there's no prohibitions saying "no metal detectors", then .... it's not prohibited, right?

b) that's great that you got a yes. But you do know, that it could also have gone this way: "no", simply because we said so. Or because we think you'll harm the grass or earthworms, etc... And what will be odd is, if later on, you find out that other locals there detect, and no one ever had a problem before. In other words: "no's" have sometimes followed your scenario, where .... people have and do detect w/no issues. The old "no one cared till you asked" routine. (simply because whomever your asking is in a bad mood, or has an image of geeks with shovels, or ... who knows? And truth be told might never have given the matter a moment's thought). This has happened quite frequently, where someone gets a no, where detecting had never and never is, a problem. It just happened here in CA, for instance: A fellow I was exchanging pms with in a certain southern CA county, learned that some friends of mine from down there were getting silver from a certain park. When I told him the name of the park, he emailed back and said "I thought you couldn't detect there? How'd you get in there?" To which I emailed back and said "who told you that?" You guessed it .... HE ASKED. But the park is routinely hit, for the past umpteen years. And ... as long as you're not being a nuisance or sticking out, no one cares.

c) I bet you could call back those same cities tomorrow, and risk an entirely different answer ("no"). This had happened to people before, where ... oddly, one person gets a yes from one city person at the park kiosk, where the other gets a "no" at city hall, or vice-versa. Heck, for example, I knew a guy who had forgotten to get the name of the person who had told him "yes". He figured, a week later "rats, I forgot to get that person's name in case I'm accosted". So he went back to the VERY SAME DESK, and tried to find out who it was he'd spoken to the week earlier. But it was a different person manning the desk this time, and neither of them (despite physical description, etc...) could figure out who it was (since this is a big city). So the md'r thought "no problem, I'll just ask the current person I'm talking to". And guess what? The person said "no". So you see, ... your answer just depends on who you ask, their mood, their perceptions of your questions, how you ask it, etc... Why subject yourself to that arbitrary whim? Why not look it up for yourself?

d) A lot of times when a person gets a "yes" (as you did), it's easy to conclude "gee it's a good thing I asked". Or conversely, if someone gets a "no", they also think "gee it's a good thing I asked, otherwise I could have been arrested". So you see, either answer (a "yes" or a "no") seems to reinforce to some people that it was "good that they asked". In other words, it seems to infer that asking the person was necessary, because their "yes" or their "no" implies that their say-so was needed, to begin with. Lest, I guess you might think that they would have answered: "that's a silly question. why are you asking me? you don't need my permission". No. Authority will rarely answers like that. They will bestow on you their princely "yes" or their princely "no", because .... afterall... you asked. The fact that you are asking them, merely implies that their say-so was needed (lest why else would you be asking them?). So the fact of a "yes" or a "no", to me, does not infer that therefore "asking was necessary".

e) there's been cases of persons getting a "yes" as you did. So they gleefully head out to the park. But lo & behold, someone (a gardener, a cop, or whatever) comes up to gripe. The md'r proudly whips out his "permission" (name to drop, etc...). But guess what happens? The griper gets on his cell-phone, calls down to city hall, and says ".... but he's tearing the place up" (which isn't true, of course). And then .... guess what happens to your permission?

A lot of this is a mute point, since you got a "yes". But I'm just saying, in the future, be careful. Look it up for yourself. If there's nothing there saying no detecting, then .... presto, there you go.