Metal Detecting In Florida?You Should Know The Law
If you are metal detecting in Florida, be sure to follow the State Laws of Antiquities. These laws follow the Federal ARPA law, (Archaelogical Resource Preservation Act) Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA)ARPA was enacted by Congress in 1979 to protect our nation's archaeological resources located on public lands. This law provides for punishment of individuals who knowingly loot or vandalize archaeological sites by imposing stiff fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of artifacts as well as tools and vehicles used in the violation. Although ARPA does not apply to state lands, the passage of this law paved the way for states, including Florida, to enact similar laws for the protection of cultural resources located on state lands.
For a better understanding of ARPA,
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I received an email from a man who was metal detecting in Florida and was arrested for metal detecting on property that was not posted. He has asked me not to mention his name or where he lives because of the embarrassment for his family. This individual was treated like a criminal, handcuffed, and hauled off to jail. His detector was confiscated as well. The local law enforcement officer who arrested him, I won’t divulge what jurisdiction in Florida the officer worked for, but he had no idea who the property belonged to either. He just figured this guy was breaking a law and arrested him. Apparently, the metal detectorist was detecting in a parking lot that was used for fisherman who parked there. The only sign in the entire area read “ Fisherman Park Here”. When the detectorist asked the law enforcement officer to produce the law that says he could not detect that parking lot, the officer handcuffed him. As it stands now, the case is going to court. The gentleman who was arrested had to hire an attorney and pay $5000 as a bail/bond to get out of jail. He still has not got his detector back. Oh, by the way. This poor man was not caught digging anything, and, it was his first day in the hobby of metal detecting. Remember, if you are going to metal detect in Florida, you better know the law. Remember, you can metal detect in Florida, however, you just can’t dig any artifact that is one hundred years old. Detecting on State beaches is allowed if you get a permit. Be careful. You need to ask if your permit is just for the beach area. Some States do not allow detecting outside of the beaches even with a permit. Do Not Let These Laws Stop You From Metal Detecting in Florida I receive many emails from people who are upset with the laws that restrict our ability to enjoy the hobby. Many individuals just give up, and their detectors end up in the closet, never to be used again. That’s the wrong approach. Giving up the hobby of metal detecting is a defeatist attitude that only gives more power to the bureaucrats. Giving up is exactly what they want us to do. I’m not saying that we should break the laws by going on to State Lands and dig up as many finds as we can. What I am saying is that we should all follow the law, but challenge them by speaking out against them. I know many instances where the laws that govern detecting in certain areas have been reduced to allow it. But this change came only after individuals spoke loud and clear. “Are You Interested In A Metal Detector Or Accessories? If you do not own a metal detector and you are thinking of purchasing one so you can go metal detecting in Florida, do not over spend. Too often, newcomers to the hobby buy expensive detectors only to discover nothing but confusion about how to use their new model.
If you spend between $350-$450 on a new model, that is good enough. Just read the owners manual, and practice with your detector, and you will do fine. Move up to the high end models after you have become proficient in the hobby.
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