Tom_in_CA
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2007
- Messages
- 13,803
- Reaction score
- 10,339
- Golden Thread
- 2
- Location
- Salinas, CA
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 2
- Detector(s) used
- Explorer II, Compass 77b, Tesoro shadow X2
reply
Brian, why isn't "doing the right thing" to have simply looked up the muni codes/rules for yourself? And if there's nothing specifically saying "no metal detecting", then presto, not prohibited. Since when does metal detecting "need permission" if there's no specific prohibition? You simply set yourself up for a "no", from a desk-bound bureaucrat, who thinks you may harm the earthworms (or any other such nonsense he'll apply to your "pressing question") when truth be told, he probably would have ever given the matter thought before you asked.
As for the verbage he cited to you (defacement, damage, destruction, etc...), let me save you some time: If you think that those type clauses automatically equates to metal detecting, then save your time in the future: I can guarantee you that EVERY single park in the entire USA has rules forbidding you from destroying, vandalizing, digging, defacing, etc.... I mean .... duh!
Here's the catch though as it pertains to us: ALL those phrases, when you think of it, DISTINCTLY apply to an end result, do they not? In other words, if you leave no trace of your presence when done, then *technically*, you have not vandalized, destroyed, or defaced anything, now have you?? Sure some busy-body lookie-lou might take issue with the semantics of this (d/t the temporary evil process of extraction). If this bothers you, you have chosen the wrong hobby. You're going to have to simply avoid such busy-bodies, go at low traffic times (after 5pm, and/or on days when their not mowing this park, and avoid when an archie convention is going on at the park, etc...).
You simply can not make the automatic equivalence that "detecting = defacement and plucking" and so forth. To do so, and you might as well give up now (or stick to private property). Because if you ask enough people if you can dig in the sandbox, I bet if they thought long enough and hard enough, they could apply these catchall clauses to even the most innocuous places. It's kind of like asking someone if you can pick your nose: they'll say "no". Or if it's a city official, he'll say you need a parade permit, etc... But let's face it: if you just use a little discretion, and don't ask for sanctions to do it, odds are, no one really cares. Same for md'ing.
Sorry that it's like this. I too wish everyone loved me and my chosen hobby. But face it: we're in an odd hobby that has connotations and draws the stares of lookie-lous. Next time, if there's no specific prohibition, just go. Barring obvious sacred historic monuments, etc... I doubt anyone applies those clauses, unless you were being a major nuisance and leaving a mess. Sure it might happen now and then. Go at lower traffic time, and avoid such busy-bodies.
Brian, why isn't "doing the right thing" to have simply looked up the muni codes/rules for yourself? And if there's nothing specifically saying "no metal detecting", then presto, not prohibited. Since when does metal detecting "need permission" if there's no specific prohibition? You simply set yourself up for a "no", from a desk-bound bureaucrat, who thinks you may harm the earthworms (or any other such nonsense he'll apply to your "pressing question") when truth be told, he probably would have ever given the matter thought before you asked.
As for the verbage he cited to you (defacement, damage, destruction, etc...), let me save you some time: If you think that those type clauses automatically equates to metal detecting, then save your time in the future: I can guarantee you that EVERY single park in the entire USA has rules forbidding you from destroying, vandalizing, digging, defacing, etc.... I mean .... duh!
Here's the catch though as it pertains to us: ALL those phrases, when you think of it, DISTINCTLY apply to an end result, do they not? In other words, if you leave no trace of your presence when done, then *technically*, you have not vandalized, destroyed, or defaced anything, now have you?? Sure some busy-body lookie-lou might take issue with the semantics of this (d/t the temporary evil process of extraction). If this bothers you, you have chosen the wrong hobby. You're going to have to simply avoid such busy-bodies, go at low traffic times (after 5pm, and/or on days when their not mowing this park, and avoid when an archie convention is going on at the park, etc...).
You simply can not make the automatic equivalence that "detecting = defacement and plucking" and so forth. To do so, and you might as well give up now (or stick to private property). Because if you ask enough people if you can dig in the sandbox, I bet if they thought long enough and hard enough, they could apply these catchall clauses to even the most innocuous places. It's kind of like asking someone if you can pick your nose: they'll say "no". Or if it's a city official, he'll say you need a parade permit, etc... But let's face it: if you just use a little discretion, and don't ask for sanctions to do it, odds are, no one really cares. Same for md'ing.
Sorry that it's like this. I too wish everyone loved me and my chosen hobby. But face it: we're in an odd hobby that has connotations and draws the stares of lookie-lous. Next time, if there's no specific prohibition, just go. Barring obvious sacred historic monuments, etc... I doubt anyone applies those clauses, unless you were being a major nuisance and leaving a mess. Sure it might happen now and then. Go at lower traffic time, and avoid such busy-bodies.
