[Az-Geocaching] Who Manages What

[William Noll]

    Many people in this state are already 'effectively' on such a list,
based on where they live. Where they live, of course, is by their choice;
and I made my choice to live half an hour away from the nearest Sheriff
station (but not for that reason!) I have to provide for my own 'first
response' in the event of assault / break-in, fire, or natural disaster.
Pity the soul who 'chooses' to pick me as a target.
    Obviously this is a touchy topic for some. But the issue is law
enforcement harassment of geocachers (intentional or not). You should not
expect to be harassed by a cop / ranger for just 'being' in a certain place,
especially when there is no obvious reason you would be approached in the
first place. My original point was also that since placing a geocache could
be construed as 'littering', there are far more significant (and obvious)
sources of litter than Joe Blow walking around the desert.
    The bottom line is this: as long as you are 'obviously' not in the
process of a crime, you do not need to explain yourself to law enforcement.
Geocachers should not be put on the spot for 'being'. Since the rules of the
game require some form of land agent notification, and geocaches for all
intents-and-purposes are open (public) and benign, you should not have to
explain your actions under duress to an uninformed agent of the state.

Bill

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian LaFrance" <brian@brianlafrance.com>
To: <listserv@azgeocaching.com>
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 10:09 AM
Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] Who Manages What


> Maybe we could start a "Do not respond" list for people like this who do
not
> appreciate the work law enforcement officers are doing.  When someone on
the
> list dials 911 because they have an intruder in the house or something
else
> that requires a response, the operator could decline service to them so
they
> can suffer :).  If you don't think that officers are needed where you
live,
> please let me know where it is you live so I can move there tomorrow and
> enjoy the dreamland you think you live in.  I live in a peaceful suburban
> neighborhood, but there is still a need for law enforcement...which isn't
> all that officers do (i.e. Locate missing children, help the needy,
motorist
> assistance).