Caching policies and legislation
Posted: Tue 2005-03-22, 14:31:26
I recieved this and felt that there would be some interest on this topic by fellow cachers in this area. Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 23:51:08 -0500
From: "huggy_d1" <huggy_d1@geocachingadmin.com>
Subject: friends to the south - geo-political problem
Our friends to the south are currently facing new legislation in the SC
state house (visit this link
http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_200 ... 050315.htm
) that would ban geocaching and letterboxing in every single cemetery
and registered national historic site state wide in South Carolina. If
this proposed legislation is passed and signed by their governor, a
fine, jail time, or community service could be imposed for placing or
seeking a geocache in any of those places.
There is no exception or exclusion or provision for explicit permission
from land owners nor caretakers at this time.
I point this out to help people understand that we as a geocaching
community need to exercise appropriate restraint when placing geocaches in
places deemed sensitive by those with more political clout than us
geocachers. As far as I know there is no national or regional lobby like
the NRA, NAACP, AARP, IMBA (could go on for a long time) for geocachers.
I do not propose a solution to the issues faced in South Carolina. I
merely post it as an awareness grabber. *WE* are being legislated
against. My best guess is there are a few too many cemetery caches in SC,
and a few too many placed at historically sensitive sites. And..
because we have at least in some small part annoyed folks with more political
clout.
While I do not disagree with the reasoning behind the proposed
legislation, I think it should be altered to allow for exceptions based on
specific permission granted by the appropriate granting authority
(caretaker or land owner / manager). If any of you have friends with political
clout in SC, it wouldn't hurt to let them know you would prefer the
house spend their valuable time on something much more important, like
dealing with the homeless.
My political $0.02 worth.
From: "huggy_d1" <huggy_d1@geocachingadmin.com>
Subject: friends to the south - geo-political problem
Our friends to the south are currently facing new legislation in the SC
state house (visit this link
http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_200 ... 050315.htm
) that would ban geocaching and letterboxing in every single cemetery
and registered national historic site state wide in South Carolina. If
this proposed legislation is passed and signed by their governor, a
fine, jail time, or community service could be imposed for placing or
seeking a geocache in any of those places.
There is no exception or exclusion or provision for explicit permission
from land owners nor caretakers at this time.
I point this out to help people understand that we as a geocaching
community need to exercise appropriate restraint when placing geocaches in
places deemed sensitive by those with more political clout than us
geocachers. As far as I know there is no national or regional lobby like
the NRA, NAACP, AARP, IMBA (could go on for a long time) for geocachers.
I do not propose a solution to the issues faced in South Carolina. I
merely post it as an awareness grabber. *WE* are being legislated
against. My best guess is there are a few too many cemetery caches in SC,
and a few too many placed at historically sensitive sites. And..
because we have at least in some small part annoyed folks with more political
clout.
While I do not disagree with the reasoning behind the proposed
legislation, I think it should be altered to allow for exceptions based on
specific permission granted by the appropriate granting authority
(caretaker or land owner / manager). If any of you have friends with political
clout in SC, it wouldn't hurt to let them know you would prefer the
house spend their valuable time on something much more important, like
dealing with the homeless.
My political $0.02 worth.