Metal Detecting is OUTLAWED in Austin, TX. Public Parks

[Fiftytwo pennies]

Yea, Sorry I didn't back here sooner, but JOE(TX) is correct and most of them are still set in stone, some time ago there were two men that had come up with plan to shove a metal detector up their pant leg and hunt a Civil War ground in Washington. Not only did they get caught, they didn't get an option of a levy fine. They went straight to jail and their equipment was taken away. The items they excavated were also taken. These laws may be funny,but they are no JOKE.

[GoldenDonkey]

Unfortunately too many of these laws came into being because of the behavior of a few bad apples. You know dig up a bunch of holes and leave the hazards to others

Still I think the real hazard is the steady erosion of freedom to do anything that is interesting or fun.

I see this in the miner's rights area too (The 1872 Mining Law is constantly under fire from land protectionists.) The problem is too many people get up in arms about anything they deem inappropriate. Forget the idea od incorporating the MD'er in the search for artifacts. No, lets seal the land so the artifacts just rust in peace!

Think of it as "My rights trump Your rights, because I say so."

Oops, off the soapbox...

GoldenDonkey

[Red Raider]

My husband knows the guy who run our state park here, so I had him ask if maybe he would let me md up there. Oh NO!!! I can't do that, "I might find something". He actually said that.

He also said that there is a lobby group at the Texas state capitol that is trying to stop all this nonsense. Anybody know anything about that?

[SteveD]

I found an old rock wall on national forest land here in Georgia about a mile off of the Pinhoti trail.I would like to MD around it but rules posted at a trail entrance rest area say no disturbing any ruins.This is an old home site and there is a transformer on a power pole at the road.This tells me that the home was still there within the last 50 or so years.The rules were different just last year and stated that coins or relics could be taken out if they were 50 years old or less.Hmm,I guess they can just change their rules whenever it suits them.I think this is a shame.Good Hunting!

[mirage Hunter]

That stinks!! I guess the arch's want it all for them selves!!

[Winger Ed.]

Originally Posted by GoldenDonkey

Unfortunately too many of these laws came into being because of the behavior of a few bad apples. You know dig up a bunch of holes and leave the hazards to others

Still I think the real hazard is the steady erosion of freedom to do anything that is interesting or fun. GoldenDonkey

That's exactly what happened.
Laws in general only get written when someone or a group screws up.
And every time any governing body meets-
its to pass more restrictions or laws on things you can't do anymore.

Gone is metal detecting in many state & National parks,
so is carrying or shooting firearms in most parks, as far back as the early 80's
Pres. Carter signed off on banning off road vehicles from all Federal parks,
and since then, most state parks have also banned or severely restricted them.
That's why almost nobody builds dune buggys, or has dirt bikes any more.

I know our city govt. spends a ton of money maintaining the city's parks.
You want to get out there in one and dig a bunch of holes like a hog rooting?
Don't get caught- or you're going to jail and embark on one big/expensive hassle.

.

[dooby]

New bill in Texas allowing metal detecting in designated areas of state parks

80(R) HB 1016 - Introduced version - Bill Text

80(R) HB 1016 - Introduced version - Fiscal Note

[Winger Ed.]

I hope it passes.
But somehow I doubt if any of the 'designated areas' will be anywhere close to any shorelines or picnic/campground type of areas.
They'll probably be in the more wilderness areas or the desert--- which is fine.

They're sort of giving the hint that it won't just be wide open for us on state lands.

.

[Joe(TX)]

I talked to a local Houston Metal Detector Dealer and he said that this bill was defeated and/or the bill was allowed to die before the House vote among our senators or representatives!. Our State Officials think that all the Treasures belong to them and covet anything found by anyone on Public Lands. Heck they even covet Treasures found on Private Property and I'm sure if they could wrangle a sizeable portion of a million or billion dollar treasure that they would surely do it!...............Heck.......they won't even let us hunt for clad coins in their State Park Swimming Areas!...........Talk about Greedy or is it being Paranoid...........Joe

[Joe(TX)]

Maybe it was good that it was defeated......................Did you look at the 2nd web site fiscal notes??!!! Basicly they were going to assign Park Rangers to watch the Treasure Hunters and make sure that they do not wander off the designated site and also they would inspect all your finds and could confiscate anything that they deemed to be of an Archelogical Nature!...................WOW............ 1) I do not like anyone to "Watch Me"..........and 2) No one is going to take any of my finds, except my wife of course!!...............All this trouble just to want to hunt for a few coins and rings............................Of course, if we were all Millionaires and asked for the same, they would probably waive all these laws.................................Joe