Side walks and curbs strips

[chackadaux]

Are they in general public property and ok to detect?


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[Tom_in_CA]

This question comes up frequently. So you can probably just do a key-word search and find all the times the issue has been discussed already.

Bear in mind that even though it can be said to be public access, that still doesn't mean that someone still couldn't gripe. So ... just because you could have legal ground to stand on, doesn't mean that you aren't an eyesore. So : opt for low-traffic times. Like nose-picking : Legal , but .... we all opt for discreet timing so as not to offend the squeamish

 

[chackadaux]

Well my dad said back in the day he use to detect on a Sunday morning the strip of grass by the parking meters. Well the strips are still there but the meters are gone. I tried one day but got worried someone would get upset are call the cops. But I’ll try again on a Sunday morning early when no one is in down town


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[Tom_in_CA]

.... but got worried someone would get upset are call the cops. ....

Can I offer a word of advice ? This above notion ^ ^ is already going to be your downfall. Even before you start. Ie.: If we *START* with this premonition that "everyone dislikes this", then it's merely going to subconsciously come out in how you portray yourself. Your body language. You will subconsciously act evasively.

And then when passer-bys pick up on those vibes, it merely drives them to ask themselves "gee what's that guy doing ?" and "Gee, what are the ramifications". Contrast to if you "act like you own the the place", then the reality is, that : No one gave 2 sh#ts about you and me.

So why this attitude, going in, that you are "doing something wrong" ? Since when ? Says who ? If you start with that mindset, it's going to drive the VERY THING YOU FEAR !

And when it comes to downtown dirt strips where meters used to be (as opposed to highly manicured turf in residential home areas), why this notion ?? If anything, it's exactly the opposite ! People come up to me all the time asking "what's the best thing you've ever found", and "how deep does it go" and "where can I buy one of those". So why this starting notion that everyone dislikes you ?

Drop that premonition, and act like you own the place. And you'll find out that the reality is: Most all passerbys could care less. The only time they CARE, is when you yourself portray that you actually think you're doing something amiss. Drop that notion

 

[Diga]

Drop that premonition, and act like you own the place. And you'll find out that the reality is: Most all passerbys could care less. The only time they CARE, is when you yourself portray that you actually think you're doing something amiss. Drop that notion

All of that nails it.

One of the curb strips I hunted this last summer, was directly across from the main entry and exit from our police station. Every few minutes there was some sort of police vehicle going in or out, and not one even paused to see what I was doing. Then again, I had on a city worker's safety vest, and I wasn't looking at them, or looking around while I was detecting. As Tom said, I didn't do anything to make me look nervous, or do anything to make me look like I shouldn't be there.

Incidentally, I now wear that city worker's vest on just about every land site I hunt. About the only time I don't wear it, is when I'm night hunting

 

[Tom_in_CA]

...when I'm night hunting

So peaceful. So serene.

 

[Xxray]

Largely a judgment call, the strips of grass on the street side of the sidewalk are public property, but people consider it their property, they mow the grass ect. I wouldn't care for someone digging on mine, and there are run-ins with kids to consider - I personally think its bad form considering the amount of options available to most of us. So if you must, I'd suggest in front of abandoned/unoccupied houses at least.
Easements and street dividers are another story, you are not getting in anyones faces here. I've always avoided them cause I like serenity and detecting with traffic whizzing around is the opposite of that, plus I don't like the odds of any good finds.

 

[Diga]

Good point Xxray.

I would never hunt a curb strip in front of someone's house. I just hunt the curb strips downtown that have no private homes.

 

[Xxray]

Good point Xxray.

I would never hunt a curb strip in front of someone's house. I just hunt the curb strips downtown that have no private homes.

Yeah thats true, curb strips don't necessarily have to be residential. Come to think of it I have done that a few times, I'm not shy but really don't care for the attention that brings, so I tend to do any of that at dusk or night even. Plus I don't use headphones and dings can be hard to hear over road noise.

 

[Diga]

Yeah thats true, curb strips don't necessarily have to be residential. Come to think of it I have done that a few times, I'm not shy but really don't care for the attention that brings, so I tend to do any of that at dusk or night even.

That brings me to something else I forgot to mention. I only hunt those downtown curb strips when it's almost deserted. For example, after business hours and Sundays.

 

[Xxray]

That brings me to something else I forgot to mention. I only hunt those downtown curb strips when it's almost deserted. For example, after business hours and Sundays.

Same with me for tot lots, obvious reasons there.
I used to hunt them anytime when my kids were young, I'd detect while they played ,, But much too awkward this day and age for a lone guy to detect around kids, I've seen some guys do it and I think it shows very bad form and judgement.
I like detecting in the dark anyhow, so works out well for me.

 

[CallMeGrey]

Like Digalicoius, my first hunt on curb strips was in front of the local police station. I had driven around and across the street from the police station were several nice old homes. Looked like good potential. So I decided I'd find out real soon if there was going to be an issue curb stripping in this nice small town. No one noticed or said a thing.

 

[Martin_V3i]

Like Digalicoius, my first hunt on curb strips was in front of the local police station. I had driven around and across the street from the police station were several nice old homes. Looked like good potential. So I decided I'd find out real soon if there was going to be an issue curb stripping in this nice small town. No one noticed or said a thing.

Not a curb strip but, I had hunted this small, semi historic park in a tiny town several times over a few years. There was an old one room school used to be there, it had a sign once upon a time. I showed up the last time I hunted there, and I discovered that the municipality of this tiny town, including the police central(several police cars to see in the parking lot), made their home within a long throwing distance. A cop rolled up while I had a good deep signal opened up, walked over and told me to "close it up." That was his own words. There was a renovation in progress and visual signs by the eye that some sod had been put down, a distance away from my dig. I ALWAYS steer clear of new sod, I know better and stay off of those specific areas.

You can be run off anywhere, public. It take all the fun out of detecting to worry. I cautiously hit curb strips and government areas.

You never know when even a plain curb strip will be trouble.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... No one noticed or said a thing.

At first blush, the fact that you were totally ignored might lead you to believe that md'ing there was/is a "non-issue". Right ? But no : It merely means you didn't go asking enough people "Can I ?"

Here's how you do it : Show up with a shovel in your hand (lest they not get the full implications of your question). Be sure to pepper the phrasing with words like "Dig", "take", "treasure", "holes" and "liability".

Then I bet you'd have gotten a "No'. Ie.: they would most certainly "notice" and "say things". So: Do not construe the old "no one cared" to mean "no one cared". It merely means you did not ask long enough and hard enough to the right people. Ok, make us proud : Go do the right thing now

 

[LovestheShiny!]

As many of you know, I hunt private front yards and curb strips. In my state of Montana, the curb strips are Public Property and open to detecting. I've had cops roll by and ask me how I am doing, any good finds, ditto with folks walking by on the sidewalk. Even when having the cops called on me, which has happened a few times, they know I am in the right and even go to the home where the Nosey Nellie or Ned called and explain to them that the curb / boulevard is public property and that I am good to detect there.

That being said, I preemptively try to preclude any conflict with any of the adjacent homeowners by going up, knocking on the door, introduce myself, explain that I am detecting the curb and will be respectful and very careful with my detecting. The homeowners are most appreciative of that and thank me. I also take that opportunity to ask if I can detect their front yard while I am there, again stressing care for the lawn, and respect for their property. I generally get the OK for the front yard about 95% of the time. If a homeowner is adamant about not wanting anyone on the yard or curb strip, I thank them for their time and move on to the next yard and strip.

A key to getting the ok is to dress neatly, not suit and tie / not like a homeless bum, be CONFIDENT, have a friendly attitude, and stress an interest in history and recovering coins and items lost, and very much stress your respect for the boulevard and their yard. Good luck everyone!

 

[metaladdict]

I detect strips at times, not the nicely taken care of type.
I do it early morning at times.