Post by troglovite on Jan 12, 2005 18:06:58 GMT -5
Knowing that I Geocache and might find this of interest a friend of mine who is a Captain of the Chattanooga Police Dpt. sent to me this email. Though there is nothing new here to cachers, you might find it interesting to see what the US Attorney 's Office has to say about Geocachers to local law enforcement.
PLEASE READ......FROM THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.............
1. This e-mail addresses an Internet game called "Geocaching" that can
cause law enforcement and military bomb squads to respond to false alarms.
The game's website at www.geocaching.com <http://www.geocaching.com>
explains the game and provides the location of each pre-positioned caches
and a phone number [206-302-7721] to call to verify the location and points
of contact for questionable cache sites and packages. The game is managed by
the company, Groundspeak, PMB 243, 15600 NE 8th Street, Suite B1, Bellevue,
WA 98008.
2. Geocaching is an international game involving the hiding of a small
container, listing a general area of the cache on an Internet site, looking
for the cache using GPS coordinates and reporting when it is found. Some of
these containers have been viewed as potential improvised explosive devices.
There appear to be about 2700 "cache sites" within Tennessee.
3. Attachment B is a Special Bulletin to law enforcement from the DeKalb
Police Department on the issue, along with some of the guidelines for the
game from the company's website. Representatives from the company appear to
be very willing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing them
free access to member's only areas. If you have any questions on this game
or questionable packages, call the company.
Larry E. Kluck
Larry E. Kluck
Intelligence Officer
U.S. Attorney's Office
800 Market St., Suite 211
Knoxville, TN 37902
Office: 865-545-4167
************************************************
Attachment B:
Off-limit (Physical) Caches
By submitting a cache listing, you assure us that you have adequate
permission to hide your cache in the selected location. However, if we see a
cache description that mentions ignoring "No Trespassing" signs (or any
other obvious issues), your listing may be immediately archived.
Caches will be quickly archived if we see the following (which is not
inclusive):
Caches on land maintained by the U.S. National Park Service or U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (National Wildlife Refuges)
Caches that are buried. If a shovel, trowel or other "pointy" object is used
to dig, whether in order to hide or to find the cache, then it is not
appropriate.
Caches placed on archaeological or historical sites. In most cases these
areas are highly sensitive to the extra traffic that would be caused by
vehicles and humans.
Caches hidden in close proximity to active railroad tracks. In general we
use a distance of 150 ft but your local area's trespassing laws may be
different. All local laws apply.
Caches near or on military installations.
Caches near or under public structures deemed potential or possible targets
for terrorist attacks. These include but are not limited to highway bridges,
dams, government buildings and airports.
There may be some exceptions. If your cache fits within one of the above
areas, please explain in notes to the reviewer section of the cache page.
For example, if you are given permission to place a cache on private
property, indicate it in the notes for the benefit of both the approver and
people seeking out the cache.
In addition, there may be local regulations already in place for certain
types of parks in your region (state parks, county preserves, etc.). There
are many local caching organizations that would be able to help you out with
those regulations. If your area does not have a local caching organization
please contact your local approver for information on regulations. If you
have complied with special regulations by obtaining a permit, please state
this on your cache page or in a 'note to the reviewer'.
If the Geocaching.com web site is contacted and informed that your cache has
been placed inappropriately, your cache will be archived or disabled and you
will be contacted with any information provided by the individual or
organization who contacted us.
Cache Types
Cache sizes for all caches that have a physical container.
Micro (35 mm film canister or smaller, typically containing only a logbook)
Regular (Tupperware-style container or ammo can)
Large (5 gallon bucket or larger)
Traditional Caches
This is the original cache type consisting of (at a bare minimum) a
container and a logbook. The cache may be filled with objects for trade.
Normally you'll find a Tupperware-style container, ammo box, or bucket
filled with goodies, or smaller container ("microcache") too small to
contain items except for a logbook. The coordinates listed on the
traditional cache page are the exact location of the cache. A container with
just an object or codeword for verification may NOT be approved if the cache
does not also include a logbook.
PLEASE READ......FROM THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.............
1. This e-mail addresses an Internet game called "Geocaching" that can
cause law enforcement and military bomb squads to respond to false alarms.
The game's website at www.geocaching.com <http://www.geocaching.com>
explains the game and provides the location of each pre-positioned caches
and a phone number [206-302-7721] to call to verify the location and points
of contact for questionable cache sites and packages. The game is managed by
the company, Groundspeak, PMB 243, 15600 NE 8th Street, Suite B1, Bellevue,
WA 98008.
2. Geocaching is an international game involving the hiding of a small
container, listing a general area of the cache on an Internet site, looking
for the cache using GPS coordinates and reporting when it is found. Some of
these containers have been viewed as potential improvised explosive devices.
There appear to be about 2700 "cache sites" within Tennessee.
3. Attachment B is a Special Bulletin to law enforcement from the DeKalb
Police Department on the issue, along with some of the guidelines for the
game from the company's website. Representatives from the company appear to
be very willing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing them
free access to member's only areas. If you have any questions on this game
or questionable packages, call the company.
Larry E. Kluck
Larry E. Kluck
Intelligence Officer
U.S. Attorney's Office
800 Market St., Suite 211
Knoxville, TN 37902
Office: 865-545-4167
************************************************
Attachment B:
Off-limit (Physical) Caches
By submitting a cache listing, you assure us that you have adequate
permission to hide your cache in the selected location. However, if we see a
cache description that mentions ignoring "No Trespassing" signs (or any
other obvious issues), your listing may be immediately archived.
Caches will be quickly archived if we see the following (which is not
inclusive):
Caches on land maintained by the U.S. National Park Service or U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (National Wildlife Refuges)
Caches that are buried. If a shovel, trowel or other "pointy" object is used
to dig, whether in order to hide or to find the cache, then it is not
appropriate.
Caches placed on archaeological or historical sites. In most cases these
areas are highly sensitive to the extra traffic that would be caused by
vehicles and humans.
Caches hidden in close proximity to active railroad tracks. In general we
use a distance of 150 ft but your local area's trespassing laws may be
different. All local laws apply.
Caches near or on military installations.
Caches near or under public structures deemed potential or possible targets
for terrorist attacks. These include but are not limited to highway bridges,
dams, government buildings and airports.
There may be some exceptions. If your cache fits within one of the above
areas, please explain in notes to the reviewer section of the cache page.
For example, if you are given permission to place a cache on private
property, indicate it in the notes for the benefit of both the approver and
people seeking out the cache.
In addition, there may be local regulations already in place for certain
types of parks in your region (state parks, county preserves, etc.). There
are many local caching organizations that would be able to help you out with
those regulations. If your area does not have a local caching organization
please contact your local approver for information on regulations. If you
have complied with special regulations by obtaining a permit, please state
this on your cache page or in a 'note to the reviewer'.
If the Geocaching.com web site is contacted and informed that your cache has
been placed inappropriately, your cache will be archived or disabled and you
will be contacted with any information provided by the individual or
organization who contacted us.
Cache Types
Cache sizes for all caches that have a physical container.
Micro (35 mm film canister or smaller, typically containing only a logbook)
Regular (Tupperware-style container or ammo can)
Large (5 gallon bucket or larger)
Traditional Caches
This is the original cache type consisting of (at a bare minimum) a
container and a logbook. The cache may be filled with objects for trade.
Normally you'll find a Tupperware-style container, ammo box, or bucket
filled with goodies, or smaller container ("microcache") too small to
contain items except for a logbook. The coordinates listed on the
traditional cache page are the exact location of the cache. A container with
just an object or codeword for verification may NOT be approved if the cache
does not also include a logbook.
