Metal Detecting in an old cemetery. Legal or not Legal?

Good morning everyone. I have this question that I hope someone could help me out with.  I live in the hills of Northern Pennsylvania. There are alot of old cemeteries in the hills of our small towns that date back before the 1900's. I have metal detected a few, and was always afraid I would get in trouble so I left quickly after I started. What is the Law about detecting in a cemetery? I read before as long as you don't dig more then 6 inches your OK. I had a local police officer tell me "NO" period. I know a few cemeterys that will be promising and are sorta off the forbidden path if you know what I mean, I may not get caught, but is it worth it?

I don't know what the PA laws are, but most of us consider it unethical and disrespectful.

 

I don't know what the PA laws are, but most of us consider it unethical and disrespectful.

 

In addition to giving MD'er a bad name....

Think this has come up in the past.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,61363.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,64213.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,71897.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,52824.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,35096.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,52327.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,6911.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,70182.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,89783.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=92594.0;topicseen
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=61363.0;topicseen
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,122835.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,142739.0.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index....739.msg1026367;topicseen#msg1026367

"I had a local police officer tell me "NO" period. I know a few cemeterys that will be promising and are sorta off the forbidden path if you know what I mean, I may not get caught, but is it worth it?"

"I may not get caught"

Sounds like you hunt wherever you want; permission
or not.

I wouldn't hunt a Cemetery, but if there is a fence or boundary, I don't see a problem with hunting around that, I just won't go into the grounds themselves, I have an personal moral issue with it. 

HH

PTP

   Just seems like plain old bad karma to me. I won't do it.

  I would never hunt in a cemetery.There are 1000's of other places to hunt.What would you do if you found someone diggin up around your Grandpa's grave.You won't be able to dig my final resting place,cause I'll be spread along the river, out to the ocean,pulled up in the clouds,come over as rain,and repeat the process.   Idig

[SHERM! You're getting faster with that list! LOL...]

SHERM!   

You're getting faster with that list!   LOL...

 

I don't know what the PA laws are, but most of us consider it unethical and disrespectful.

 

Agreed!

[SHERM! You're getting faster with that list! LOL...]

SHERM!   

You're getting faster with that list!   LOL...

 

Montana Jim,

I try. {wink}

Unfortunately the list is getting longer.

have a good un...
SHERMANVILLE

The only time I have or will search in a cemetery is when they have unused grounds and are preparing them for sale. they seem to have no problem giving permission to hunt these unused areas here.
But to avoid problems with the public it is recommended to hunt at night or early morning, when the odds of someone seeing you and complaining are far less.

Thom

Thanks everyone for your advice. After listening to what was said here, I decided not to detect in a cemetery. Thanks to everyone

Good thing you changed your mind about hunting there.  We have enough trouble with our image.

Good thing you changed your mind about hunting there.  We have enough trouble with our image.

Agreed! 

For the future of our hobby I would say No!   It's just not worth any bad press. IMO

Good luck!........HH

I read before as long as you don't dig more then 6 inches your OK.

When I first read his post I thought I saw 6 feet instead of inches.  Whew

No i haven't and No i won't ! just seems disrespectful to me 

the cemetery near o hare airport will be being moved for the planned expansion
just thought id throw that out 

EDDE,

The thing to do in that case is to be there with bells on to detect the place where they have already done the removal. Before they start construction. After they start construction it becomes a security measure to keep folks off of it.

Thom

I wouldn't hunt a Cemetery, but if there is a fence or boundary, I don't see a problem with hunting around that, I just won't go into the grounds themselves, I have an personal moral issue with it. 

HH

PTP  Same here. You would probably find more on the path from the road to the cemetary entrance. Personally I would never hunt in a cemetary unless somebody recently lost a ring or something and was wanting it found. I would find it and then get out. My 2 cents.

"I had a local police officer tell me "NO" period. I know a few cemeterys that will be promising and are sorta off the forbidden path if you know what I mean, I may not get caught, but is it worth it?"

"I may not get caught"

Sounds like you hunt wherever you want; permission
or not.

Hey, Archie.  Aren't you the guy that "TV Producer" was considering for his "Treasure Show"??

Maybe you should do a show on Cemetary Digging.

    Legal or illegal is not the question. With me and most of the folks here it is a question of ethics, morals, karma etc. and most of us would not detect in a cemetary. In addition to not being good from an ethics/morals/karma standpoint, it also makes the hobby look extremely bad.  Just my 2 cents.