wkhaz

I received this e-mail from Rep. Mac Toole (one of the sponsors of the bill that I met with)... David, Thanks for Your involvement and providing me additional education about this subject. With this data, I will not be voting for this Bill. It was moved to the contested calendar today. Mac Toole >>> David Wilkie <wilkie647@alltel.net> 4/14/2005 5:20:49 PM >>> I would like to thank you for meeting with me to discuss H.3777 and Geocaching last week. I understand that the bill has been discussed in committee at least twice, with quite allot of comments. I also see that Representative Bowers has removed his name as a sponsor of the bill. I would like to see your support for this bill withdrawn as well. Thank you for your consideration this matter. If you have any questions regarding my position in this matter, please feel free to contact me....

From the House meeting yesterday... 4/26/2005 House Requests for debate-Rep(s). Lucas, Weeks, Ott, Thompson, Rutherford, Hosey, Scarborough, Pinson, Ceips, Scott, Merrill, Hinson, and Limehouse H.3777 is on todays calendar at page 43.

The bill was up for reading (4:30 pm) but there were so many representatives that wanted to debate the bill, Ms Ceips was not able to speak on the bill and is was put off for another date. Time ran out and the House adjourned for the day.

Another article in the newspaper on this ... article And one from the archive. This article "Coordinated by the S.C. Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) at the University of South Carolina, S.C. Archaeology Month includes tours, lectures, demonstrations, exhibits, canoe trips and excavations at historical sites and parks around the state. Oct. 2 is Archaeology Discovery Day. Participants will learn how to use global positioning systems (GPS) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) correctly to "read dirt" and find clues about the past or discover what kinds of weapons and tools were used by prehistoric Indians."

H.3777 is on the SC House calendar for TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2005.

They amended bill would, in part, make it illegal to geocache and use a GPS to locate ANYTHING in a cemetery, archeological sites, or on the historic properties of the State, as defined in Section 60-12-10(4), the South Carolina Inventory of Historic Properties, or the African-American National Register. They added the part about the South Carolina Inventory of Historic Properties. Since the SCDOT has to survey areas before and during road construction and widening projects, they list those areas (roads) on the South Carolina Inventory of Historic Properties. As such, that list includes entire towns, Interstate Highways, and Primary and Secondary road systems statewide. So it would be illegal to use a GPS in your car, boat, or plane to locate a house, hospital, or restaurant while in these areas without written permission from the owners of all of the properties. The other thread [sC Legislation] has alot more up-to-date information on this.

H.3777 is scheduled for its second reading in Fridays session (4/22/05).

Sorry, but this now covers locations that are, in part, on the South Carolina Inventory of Historic Properties. The SCDOT has areas listed in the South Carolina Inventory of Historic Properties because they are doing road construction and needed to survey for historical sites. If it's listed on the South Carolina Inventory of Historic Properties, it applies. Entire cities, towns, and major highways are on the South Carolina Inventory of Historic Properties. Not just specific historical or archeological sites.

Try this link ... SC Legislators...

This bill would also outlaw activities such as Earth Caching http://www.earthcache.org/ From the Erath Cache web site: "An Earthcache is a special place that people can visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of our Earth. Earthcaches include a set of educational notes and the details about where to find the location (latitude and longitude). Visitors to Earthcaches can see how our planet has been shaped by geological processes, how we manage the resources and how scientists gather evidence to learn about the Earth." Sponsors and partners of Earth Cache Are: Subaru The Geological Society of America National Park Service Groundspeak Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics

It's not silly. It's real. If this passes, IT WILL BE LAW, and subject to enforcement. Granted, police will probably not be staking out sites of having Geocache Sting Operations,... But the bill was amended in committee to redefine Geocaching. Instead of: " 'Geocaching' means the activity of hiding a geocache container from public view for the challenge of participants using a global positioning system (GPS) device and internet published coordinates to locate the geocache." The new definition is: " 'Geocaching' means the activity of participants using a global positioning system (GPS) device to locate the geocache or another specific location." So if I am in the area Geocaching, and want to find a place to eat, I cannot use my GPS to direct me to the restaurant. Additional, " 'Geocache' means the container that serves the purpose of providing a place to store small items or logbooks which are intentionally placed by their owners." So if you are a fireman trying to locate a lockbox that contains an industrial sites gate access key or a set of Material Safety Data Sheets in an industrial setting, that would be considered a Geocache.

You would not be allowed to use your OnStar or GPS map in you car in these areas of Lexington County, SC, because they are on the Partial listing of The South Carolina inventory of Historic Properties for Lexington County: · I/26 and Airport Blvd.,Columbia Airport vicinity · S-172/S-408 intersection · Proposed SC-302 Widening · Section of US 1 over an Abandoned RR for Bridge Replacement, Town of Batesburg · SCE&G Saluda Dam Complex · SC Route 6 Improvements Project · 1-20/SC Route 6 Interchange Improvements Project · SC Route 60-SC Route 6 Improvements · SC 6 Road Improvements Project, Lake Murray · SC 602 Widening from Charleston Highway (US21) to S-168, · Springdale vicinity, Columbia Airport Road · US 378 Widening from Road S-24 to the Saluda County Line · Lexington Bypass · SC 302 Widening from I-26 to S-415, South Congaree · Proposed US 378 Widening · Proposed SC-6/SC-302 Intersection Improvements Project · Chapin - town - Chapin Methodist Church · Lexington - Town and Vicinity · West Columbia (includes New Brookland) – City, “town limits" · Irmo – Town · Chapin - Town · Swansea - Town · Pelion - Town · Lexington – County, "buildings and sites within and adjacent to town limits;" · Gaston - Town · Batesburg - Town · Leesville - Town · Swansea - Town · West Columbia - City http://www.state.sc.us/scdah/hpsurvy/countylist.htm

By the way folks. The revised law would make it illegal for pilots to use GPS to navigate over South Carolina (in the areas included in the bill).

I just saw this on the states SC House Daily Journal for Tuesday, April 19, 2005. H. 3777 (Word version) -- Reps. Ceips, Loftis, Breeland, Scott, Whipper, Hosey, Vaughn, Anthony, Battle, Chalk, Clyburn, Dantzler, Hardwick, Harvin, Herbkersman, J. Hines, Howard, Jefferson, Kirsh, Lee, Martin, McCraw, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J. H. Neal, Perry, M. A. Pitts, Rivers, Scarborough, Simrill, Toole and Umphlett: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-17-605 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERMS "GEOCACHE", "GEOCACHING", AND "LETTERBOXING", TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO ENGAGE IN GEOCACHING OR LETTERBOXING IN CEMETERIES, ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES, OR ON THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES OF THE STATE, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY. Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

I suggest that the SCGA or even Groundspeak contact all of the GPS and automobile companies that provide GPS mapping for auto/truck/motorcycle navigation. Anyone using a vehicle mounted GPS to locate a restaurant, hospital, or even a National/State/Local tourist destination would be illegal in the areas specified in the bill. OnStar may have something to say about this new bill. Not to mention the fire, police, and EMS systems out there that use onboard mapping to locate emergencies.

Could you post the e-mail here when you are done. I would like to do the same thing.

Time to start on the SC Senate. Write letters, e-mail, telephone, and meet with your local SC Senate member ASAP.

Does anyone else think it’s the time to get the news media involved? Take a local TV crew out for a day of geocaching, lets say, to historic sites with micro caches and to cover CITO events. Then show the post on this forum about how Ms. Ceips and her supporters have intentionally taken cache logs out of context, and misstated the facts, etc. to get her law passed. And how Ms. Ceips just happens to be on the committee that is reviewing the proposed law, and how the meetings to discuss the law get put on the schedule at the last minute so nobody can oppose her position.

The SC Leg. site for House Meetings shows the following... Monday - April 18 Session at 10:00 a.m. Room 403 -- 2:30 p.m. -- L.C.I. Public Utility Subcommittee Agenda Available Room 516 -- 2:30 p.m. or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Full Judiciary Committee Agenda Available 1. SPECIAL LAWS SUBCOMMITTEE - Favorable with Amendment H. 3777 -- Reps. Ceips, Loftis, Breeland, Scott, Whipper, Bowers, Hosey, Vaughn, Anthony, Battle, Chalk, Clyburn, Dantzler, Hardwick, Harvin, Herbkersman, J. Hines, Howard, Jefferson, Kirsh, Lee, Martin, McCraw, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J. H. Neal, Perry, M. A. Pitts, Rivers, Scarborough, Simrill, Toole and Umphlett: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-17-605 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERMS "GEOCACHE", "GEOCACHING", AND "LETTERBOXING", TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO ENGAGE IN GEOCACHING OR LETTERBOXING IN CEMETERIES, ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES, OR ON THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES OF THE STATE, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

Are any of the people that are going to the committee meeting this week going to bring any of this up?

Just an update... 03/15/05 House Introduced and read first time HJ-157 03/15/05 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-157 04/13/05 House Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Bowers

I’ve contacted my representative, HAVE YOU? If you want to stop, or in the worse case have the bill passed with as little affect on our sport as possible, you had better write your representative now. Not later, but now. Your governmental representatives look forward to "opinions from the grassroots." They want to keep in close touch with their voters, and letters are the best indication of what those voters are thinking. Don't hesitate to write for fear of imposing on them. If you have something to say that you think should be called to their attention, do so. The mail gets top priority with most elected officials because every letter represents a potential vote. Most representatives, in the interest of retaining their seats, want to keep the voters happy. You can locate your representative and his/her contact information HERE Writing an effective letter to your elected officials is not a difficult task. Here are a few guidelines from various sources... 1. Don't ignore your representative and write to one from another district just because you disagree politically with yours. 2. Write on your personal or business letterhead, if possible, and sign your name over your typed signature at the end of your message. Do write legibly. Handwritten letters are fine if they are readable. 3. Do be sure to include your address. If your name could be either masculine or feminine, identify your sex. If you have family, business, or political connections related to the issue, explain. 4. If you are a registered voter, include your voter registration number. 5. Identify your subject clearly. State the name of the legislation you are writing about. Give the House or Senate bill number (H.3777) if you know it. 6. State your reason for writing. Your own personal experience is your best supporting evidence. Explain how the issue would affect you or your family, business, or profession or what affect it could have on your state or community. 7. Avoid stereotyped phrases and sentences that give the impression of "form" letters. They tend to identify your message as part of an organized pressure campaign and produce little or no impact. 8. Ask the legislator to state his position on the issue in his reply. As his constituent you are entitled to know. 9. Be reasonable. Do not ask for the impossible. Don't threaten. Don't say, "I'll never vote for you unless you do such and such." That will not help your cause; it may even hurt it. Don't begin on the righteous note of "as a citizen and taxpayer." Your representative assumes you are a citizen and knows we all pay taxes. 10. Do include pertinent editorials from local papers. 11. Consider the factor of timing. Try to write your position on a bill while it is in committee. Your Senators and Representatives can usually be more responsive to your appeal at that time, rather than later on when a committee has already approved the bill. Of course, this is not always the case. Sometimes your legislator may reserve judgment and his vote until the sentiment of his constituency has crystallized. 12. Don't sign and send either a form letter or one that has been photocopied. 13. Thank your legislator if he pleases you with his vote on an issue. Everyone appreciates a complimentary letter and remembers it. On the other hand, if his vote is contrary to your position, don't hesitate to let him know. He will remember that too!

I added this post to the legislative thread also... One way to get around this is to make all of the caches in these areas VERTUAL caches. To get credit for the cache, e-mail the cache owner some proof of the visit. Such as date of an event, the wording of a particular epitaph, etc. The proposed law DOES NOT make LOOKING for the geocache illegal. Just hiding a geocache container. Virtual caches are exempt from the proposed law. If they outlaw virtual caches, wouldn’t they then make it illegal for anyone to access the sites?

One way to get around this is to make all of the caches in these areas VERTUAL caches. To get credit for the cache, e-mail the cache owner some proof of the visit. Such as date of an event, the wording of a particular epitaph, etc. The proposed law DOES NOT make LOOKING for the geocache illegal. Just hiding a geocache container. Virtual caches are exempt from the proposed law. If they outlaw virtual caches, wouldn’t they then make it illegal for anyone to access the sites?

Since this appears to be a commercial post ($40.00 per year), could you give us an idea of what you say in your article?