Today I found a socialist (or he found me)

[surprman]

Bummer. Today I was detecting at my favorite park (a municipal part as defined by the village). I had been detecting there all summer and I am fanatic about filling in holes and removing all junk (lots of lead from plumbing, steel wire and about 5 complete capguns, surprisingly). The park is nice and I was actually just thinking this morning that I could see no evidence that I had dug any of the hundreds of plugs I have made there. Most folks I have met there would strike up a brief conversation while walking by the park (I think more to engage in conversation than actually a desire to know what I was finding). Today, a younger guy (maybe early 30's) was walking two dogs and asked me if I lived here (I live about thee miles from the village). He proceded to tell me that this is village property and I need to ask permission to metal detect. I explained that it was my understanding that this was a municipal village park and there are no postings (online or otherwise) that indicate that I could not detect there, and that I was very carefull about cleaning up after detecting. He proceeded to tell me that all items in the park were the property of the village and that I should not keep anything I find for myself -that any items I found were of archaeological value and should be given to the village for everyone to gain an understanding of the history of the village (after of course I asked for permission to do so!). Really - I have not found any pyramids or burial sites with my detector - just a few (nice) coins and some clad (not much historical value there). I realized after a few minutes that this guy was not going to drop it so stopped taking and I packed up and started back toward my vehicle. He followed me the entire time (another 2 or 3 minutes), yammering away behind me, I guess in some sort of attempt to convince me that he was right and I was somehow wrong for detecting there. I got back to my car and since I had not said anything at all to him (since I had stopped digging), he said something like " ...well you are not going to talk to me?" I replied "Yeah, something like that" as I put my detector away and got into my car (I am really not a confrontational person and for me to even say that is quite a lot). He came around to the driver side window and continued to yammer outside the car! Now, to be fair, he was not threatening at all, so I was not to concerned from a safety standpoint. I was more annoyed at his persistence (and philosophical position on finding lost items). I guess I will go to the village parks department tomorrow, talk to someone in charge (in person) and request permission (in writing). I'm sure some would ignore this guy and continue to detect, but I would not feel comfortable going back without permission in hand, in case I run across this guy again (it is a small village and I am pretty sure he lives within view of the park).

Bye

 

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[dex378]

Well you are a much calmer guy than me. That guy would have been removing my boot from his a......

 

[seger98]

well I sure hope you keep us informed about getting permission! Good luck

 

[tabdog]

A nut started ranting at me like that one time in a city park.

When he asked me if I worked for the city, I lied and said I

was the retired city commissioner. ( they have a Mayor there ).

I then put my earphones back on and ignored him til he left.

I did keep an eye on him. He was a nut!

Happy Hunting,

Tabdog

 

[fmrUSMC_0844]

He would have got an earful from me. You should have given him all the trash you dug and say "here you go, here is some archaeological finds from your village. Teach the people not to litter"

 

[IAsoldier]

Glad that your cool headed me I would of told him to get lost fast.

 

[Jack_MIghtyheart]

I'm a socialist, but this guy sounds kinda crazy. I'm sure the village would thank you for doing your part to clean up to park.

 

[DD-777]

Organize a group hunt for that park...

 

[Montana Jim]

He sounds like he wants to enforce his own social agenda... no doubt his dogs peeing on the grass causes more damage.

Socialism is one step from fascism... it's all about controlling you - and what you do. The mindset that whats good for them is good for you is good for the society at large is a failed concept...

The best thing any detectorist can do is become MORE knowledgeable about the laws in your area, and be ready to cite or produce the proper verbage or permission to just simply put an end to it.

At some point it's simply them harassing you.

If you're not sure about your local area - find out, and be prepared to quietly respond in the affirmative, that yes, you ARE legally there.

We all appreciate the concerns of finding historically significant finds, or destroying public property... but detecting is generally neither - be prepared to stand your ground with the facts you need to turn away pesky stalkers and environmental wackos.

 

[TxCacheHunter]

You did the right thing not getting in to it with him. Some people appoint themselves as keeper of whatever they want to be. Please Keep us updated when you ask for permission how it goes. Thanks!

 

[hollowpointred]

youre a more patient man than me. if he had followed me around like that he probably would have been picking up his teeth of the ground. what an idiot.

 

[49er]

I used to have one of those guys live in my area. He would stop by every day telling me that I could do this but not that. Lucky I don't live in that 'Neighborhood' not much of a Mister Rogers type guy... . You did the right thing, never know who or what type of nut job you will run into now days.

 

[DPBOB]

DON'T go and try to get permission in writing. You will be opening a can of worms. They will just say NO.

Forget about the A Hole and go about what you have been doing all along..

Don't ruin it for yourself and open that can of worms..

He was a nobody...

 

[bill-USA]

If you decide to go to the park and recreation, go with the attitude that you want to know what you should do when being harassed while attempting to enjoy a day at their parks. Let them lead the rest of the questions, and include 'research' you did online and checking the ordinances to make sure there were not restrictions if you have to mention metal detecting.

Just treat it like you were annoyed by the jerk and want to know what the appropriate response is, or who to call if it happens again. Take names and be ready to provide them when the 'monitor' challenges you again. Challenge back with who are you, and what gives you the right to annoy others at the park when they too are trying to enjoy the public property like so many others. Let him know you've already discussed his harassment with the parks department and what they said you should do about him.........

I tend to agree if you ask for permission it's really easy for many of the 'power mongers' to say no, just to exercise their 'power'. That's a lot easier than actually having to look into the ordinances and regulations covering the use of the parks in most cases. Only a very small percentage of the parks across this nation have provided online sets of regulations that permit you to do keyword searches to determine if they even have any legislation or 'park rules' regarding metal detecting and only a very few of the community parks across this nation have any restrictions in that area.

I once successfully asked about metal detecting public property in my small community. The wording I used was along the lines of "Do you folks have anything on the books about metal detecting on public property?" They said, "what property in particular? " I said, "None in particular, but places like the court house lawn, the public parks, and schools, etc." "No we don't regulate metal detecting, in fact I see guys all the time over at the court house detecting, but you'll have to check with the individual school regarding their grounds...." I did not get the officers name, but I new the date, and the desk position so I could have gotten that data if needed. Never needed it. Never did find it necessary to check with the schools either for some reason.

This was done when I was fairly green, and now unless it's state or federal property, I "PRESUME" if it's public property for general enjoyment, then as a taxpayer, I qualify to enjoy it just a much as the ball players, sunbathers, and rug rats.

I do know that many state and federal properties have rules in place. That generally does NOT mean you can't detect, it means you have to meet certain criteria before you can detect. Request and obtain a permit, hunt during restricted hours or calendar days, or restricted to certain areas, pay fees, or whatever other criteria may have been developed for that particular location. Still detecting is usually permitted once you've jumped through all the hoops.

There may also be some cases of total restriction due to ignorant detectorists not filling holes and removing trash.
If every time I went to a park I discovered fresh holes dug and trash dropped beside them, I'd want to know who did it and find some way to put a stop to it also. Worse yet if my three year old twisted his ankle or broke his leg on one of those holes, I'd do my best to sue the socks off the person responsible (granted I should have been watching the kid closer etc). Parks and recreation will be the first area the attorney will attack since they're pocket book is as deep as the community can afford.

Do a little more homework, get the names, positions etc. of the folks you talk to, and be ready to put the jerk in his place the next time he harasses you in a public location. Best of luck, and sorry I got so long winded, but I feel better now.

Thanks.

 

[greydigger]

IMHO you did the best you could.
Folks like that scare me and I might have called 911 to complain of harrassment.
Might have gotten me in trouble though if he was son of the owner of the village.

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

You definitely have more tact than I have.

I actually did what someone suggested. I have a pouch around my waist (from the local hardware store) and I attached a few things to it (so I could velcro shut the good stuff, and be able to dump the other stuff in the trash easier), so I just scooped up the stuff from my "garbage" section and handed it to him. He asked me what the h*ll he was supposed to do with that stuff, and I told him I was giving him all my "treasures" to do with as he saw fit. Then, he acted like I was such a fool to be spending all that money finding old cans and other crap, and I informed him I would bring it to the garbage can, like I always do and he handed the stuff back to me, walked away laughing at my idiocy, and I continued to detect - of course, that little velcro pouch had one silver ring in it and about 27 bucks, including a silver liberty, but heh, what the heck, huh?

Some people.

B

 

[greydigger]

Good Job Mrs. O !

 

[jgas]

A traingle hold or reverse guillitine and a soon Tap Out would have stopped that fools rantics! He would have been closer to the ground that way he could be closer to the good stuff! Become one with the dirt. jgas

 

[Harry_Morant]

I had a dear old lady come up and ask me if I was responsible for all the holes in the park (her husband was pretending he wasn't there). Looking around me I realised that she was referring to all the little plugs which had been cut out by the aerator which the groundskeeper was currently towing behind his tractor. I mean c'mon there where tens of thousands of 1 cm diameter holes everywhere and she was serious

I was always extra careful when digging in this park and the groundskeepers regularly came by, had a chat and suggested where i might dig next.

 

[mpostma]

You have more patience than I do.
As a city commissioner in my town, and a former mayor I have a suggestion for anyone confronted with someone like that.
Simply say you are exercising your legal right to enjoy the public property which as a citizen is of course yours to enjoy.
Then ask if you will need to call an officer of the law and press charges for harrassment and someone infringing on your legal use of public land.
This tends to freak them out, and end the conversation.
Give freaks like that an inch and they take the whole mile.

Thanks,
Mark