TheRealDesertRat Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 My girlfriends father is a the park manager for this area's state parks, and I had told him about geocaching about 3 months ago. Today, he told me that they had informed him of a new law that was being passed forbidding geocaching in state parks, wildlife preserves, and even just plain BLM land. We saw most of this coming, but the BLM land is a little bit of overkill I think. Has anyone else heard anything about this? With BLM land making up most of the western states, that isn't going to leave much land for us to pursue this sport. Does anyone else have any information regarding this subject? please respond!!! The Real DesertRat Quote Link to comment
+rdw Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 Isn't BLM federal land? Does a state have the power to set usage policies for federal land? rdw Quote Link to comment
OFF RODE Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 Considering that the BLM in Az and Ut condones if not promotes OHV use in many areas I think it would seem rather silly that they would universally ban geocaching...perhaps its just BLM administured refuges and wilderness areas....which seems proper to me anyway. "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." Yogi Berra JeepNAz@aol.com Quote Link to comment
TheRealDesertRat Posted March 26, 2002 Author Share Posted March 26, 2002 On BLM land, state parks, game and fish preserves, and national parks. I am going to ask him for more information on the subject. When I have it I will hopefully be able to give some links to info.. The Real DesertRat Quote Link to comment
OFF RODE Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 Does he not like you??? LOL Federal laws rarely deal with such mundane subjects.... "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." Yogi Berra JeepNAz@aol.com Quote Link to comment
+RangerRick Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 I think it would be wise to keep current on this topic. Banning all these areas would just about wipe out our sport. Seeing there are about 7-8000 active geocachers, we might have some say in what laws get passed before they get passed if we work together and write our congressman. Again, I would only suggest this if the threat is in fact real. Quote Link to comment
+Rubber Duckie Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 It is really sad that geocaching might be banned from parks. Most geocachers are respectful of nature, and are in fact taking part in geocaching in order to get back to nature and the outdoors. I am all for fighting for our cause! Quote Link to comment
+Whidbey Walk Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 I can’t quite see this being totally true. To allow or not to allow geocaching would not require a law per se. The laws (state and federal) already exist that grant the agencies responsible for public lands the ability to regulate activities on those lands as needed. A specific law (state or federal or even local) addressing geocaching would be overkill. More likely, an agency would simply adopt regulations prohibiting an activity, and the likelihood that several agencies would do so simultaneously seems remote. Quote Link to comment
Jeremy Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 Seems a bit suspect. Federal agencies have no control over state parks. And BLM lands have already created their own policy on geocaching (positive). Possibly a grandstander is out there ruffling feathers. And you're right. Geocachers that I met are a good lot that has done some great things in parks. We've been pretty good at policing ourselves so far. And if something like this were to happen, we have a good organization to take action to prevent it. If you have any real facts (like a memo or something), let us know. I'd like to hear more substance than hearsay on this. I personally get "tips" whenever something comes down the pipeline, and I have yet to hear even a whisper. Jeremy Jeremy Irish Groundspeak Lackey and Geopuppet Quote Link to comment
+Ranz Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 I have been mulling over writing a letter to our Senator Hatch to introduce him to the sport and ask for his support. He is a good guy on issues like this and he has a lot of pull in Washington. Maybe he would be willing to watch our backs. Quote Link to comment
Jake.Hazelip Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 Well, a rider to a bill could easily do it. Anyway, he didn't happen to tell you the bill number so we could go look it up and read it, did he? Until I see it in writing, it does not exist. Quote Link to comment
Team Covalt Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 While doing the "At the Top" cache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=13371) last friday, I spoke with the Chief (Supervising) Ranger at Palomar State Park (in California) about geocaching. His comment is that they are allowed, but you need a permit and the State Park System is currently not issuing any permits for caches while the State Parks look into it. Their problem is geocachers cutting trails and trambling in areas that they shouldn't be in. Also there is a problem about protected areas (such as uncovered archaeological/historical and senstive areas) being disturbed. Also the problem with animals. As a former National Park Ranger, I can see the logic here. I don't like it when I see people "cutting"trails or going into areas that are posted as off limits. We need to protect are resources for future generations. Of course, JMHO Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot Quote Link to comment
+WaylandersMA Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 or the Federal registry on Lexis-Nexis. Did have a nice write up in the Wall Street Journal on March 19. Quote Link to comment
+worldtraveler Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 quote:Originally posted by The Real DesertRat:From what he has told me it is going to be a federal law. On BLM land, state parks, game and fish preserves, and national parks. I am going to ask him for more information on the subject. When I have it I will hopefully be able to give some links to info.. The Real DesertRat Oh, come on. Please get the facts before posting such an alarmist topic complete with three (3) exclamation points. If the federal legislators were to be so misguided and blindly ambitious in their pursuit, do you really think the states are going to stand by and allow federal government jurisdiction in State Parks on something as minor as this to go unchallenged? There's already been one war fought in this country because several states had jurisdictional disagreements with the federal government. Now your rumor threatens to start another!!! Save your Dixie cups, folks; the South may yet have to rise again! Worldtraveler Quote Link to comment
+worldtraveler Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 quote:Originally posted by The Real DesertRat:From what he has told me it is going to be a federal law. On BLM land, state parks, game and fish preserves, and national parks. I am going to ask him for more information on the subject. When I have it I will hopefully be able to give some links to info.. The Real DesertRat Oh, come on. Please get the facts before posting such an alarmist topic complete with three (3) exclamation points. If the federal legislators were to be so misguided and blindly ambitious in their pursuit, do you really think the states are going to stand by and allow federal government jurisdiction in State Parks on something as minor as this to go unchallenged? There's already been one war fought in this country because several states had jurisdictional disagreements with the federal government. Now your rumor threatens to start another!!! Save your Dixie cups, folks; the South may yet have to rise again! Worldtraveler Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Ranger Rick: I think it would be wise to keep current on this topic. Banning all these areas would just about wipe out our sport. Seeing there are about 7-8000 active geocachers, we might have some say in what laws get passed before they get passed if we work together and write our congressman. Again, I would only suggest this if the threat is in fact real. There may only be 7000 now but I got involved in January and so far have 25 caches, and about 12 new people involved. I'm better at getting people interested (and I'm not a people person) than finding caches. The bottom line is that the word will get out and we may very well be able to excercise some clout. At least if the vocalness in these forums is any indicator. Quote Link to comment
+Vertigo Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 We should write Garmin and Megellan too, get them to rally behind us. I should supect they have an interest in the future of geocaching. Quote Link to comment
+KD7MXI Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 they mite as well bann hiking/fishing/hunting/photography/offroadig etc use the land or loose it to developers forever http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CacheAcrossAmerica http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest_cache.asp?u=KD7MXI http://www.cachunuts.com Quote Link to comment
+KD7MXI Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 they mite as well bann hiking/fishing/hunting/photography/offroadig etc use the land or loose it to developers forever http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CacheAcrossAmerica http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest_cache.asp?u=KD7MXI http://www.cachunuts.com Quote Link to comment
TheRealDesertRat Posted March 27, 2002 Author Share Posted March 27, 2002 quote:Originally posted by worldtraveler: Oh, come on. Please get the _facts_ before posting such an alarmist topic complete with three (3) exclamation points. _If_ the federal legislators were to be so misguided and blindly ambitious in their pursuit, do you really think the states are going to stand by and allow federal government jurisdiction in State Parks on something as minor as this to go unchallenged? There's already been one war fought in this country because several states had jurisdictional disagreements with the federal government. Now your rumor threatens to start another!!! Mr Traveler, I posted my original message to see if anyone else had any information ( comlete with 3 exclamtion marks) Doesn't it seem reasonable of me to ask if anyone else has heard any news of this. Please don't try to persocute me for nothing. It seems anytime I post anything here all I get in return is trouble. Why is this. I will find out the details, but until I do, please don't try and discredit me. All I was trying to do is find out> - The Real DesertRat Quote Link to comment
TheRealDesertRat Posted March 27, 2002 Author Share Posted March 27, 2002 quote:Originally posted by worldtraveler: Oh, come on. Please get the _facts_ before posting such an alarmist topic complete with three (3) exclamation points. _If_ the federal legislators were to be so misguided and blindly ambitious in their pursuit, do you really think the states are going to stand by and allow federal government jurisdiction in State Parks on something as minor as this to go unchallenged? There's already been one war fought in this country because several states had jurisdictional disagreements with the federal government. Now your rumor threatens to start another!!! Mr Traveler, I posted my original message to see if anyone else had any information ( comlete with 3 exclamtion marks) Doesn't it seem reasonable of me to ask if anyone else has heard any news of this. Please don't try to persocute me for nothing. It seems anytime I post anything here all I get in return is trouble. Why is this. I will find out the details, but until I do, please don't try and discredit me. All I was trying to do is find out> - The Real DesertRat Quote Link to comment
+KD7MXI Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 PERSONNALY I NEVER HEARD OF THIS LAW I EVEN GOT A GROUP OF BLM FIRE FIGHTERS INTO THE SPORT THERE ENJOYING IT A LOT http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CacheAcrossAmerica http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest_cache.asp?u=KD7MXI http://www.cachunuts.com Quote Link to comment
+KD7MXI Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 PERSONNALY I NEVER HEARD OF THIS LAW I EVEN GOT A GROUP OF BLM FIRE FIGHTERS INTO THE SPORT THERE ENJOYING IT A LOT http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CacheAcrossAmerica http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest_cache.asp?u=KD7MXI http://www.cachunuts.com Quote Link to comment
+worldtraveler Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 quote:Originally posted by The Real DesertRat:...Please don't try to persocute me for nothing. It seems anytime I post anything here all I get in return is trouble. Why is this. I will find out the details, but until I do, please don't try and discredit me. All I was trying to do is find out> - The Real DesertRat I'm sorry that my response was received as persecution. I was trying to point out (in a humorous way was my intent) the advisability of practicing restraint when one lacks hard facts. Perhaps it was just me, but when I first read the topic "New law against geocaching!!!" and this part of your original post: quote:My girlfriends father is a the park manager for this area's state parks, and I had told him about geocaching about 3 months ago. Today, he told me that they had informed him of a new law that was being passed forbidding geocaching in state parks, wildlife preserves, and even just plain BLM land. We saw most of this coming, but the BLM land is a little bit of overkill I think. Has anyone else heard anything about this?..., it looked like you were announcing that a law was in the works, not inquiring whether the story you had heard was true. But then I realized that the concept of a federal law of such widesweeping effect aimed at such a small group of people to prohibit an activity with such minimal impact was so absurd, that I dismissed it as heresay. Perhaps if you had introduced your topic with ??? instead of !!! I would have better understood your intent. BTW, Are you on good terms with your girlfriend's father, or is he prone to jerking your chain? ; Worldtraveler Quote Link to comment
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