I see you guys scrounging from pretty major highways, could be a city highway but also an interstate highway. On the side of these roads but also entrance ramps and such. Which ones do you think 'they' don't bother you on? City, county, state, federal. Also, we could add utility ROWs. Of course, I would not scrounge where it's off the ROW.
Ive had cops stop on local roads, state highways, and interstates. One of my main criterias is how safe i can park and work. If its on a busy area that i cant park safe ill pass. Not worth it. Yesterday i was cutting on an entrance ramp. Not busy at all. Didnt have a breakdown lane and on an almost full circle ramp. I forgot my safety cone. I was far from home and on a mission so i did cut. State cop pulls up as im nearing the end, parks and gets out. His concern was my safety so he stayed, let me finish loading (i was parked tight to the guardrail and couldnt open my passenger door) and go. Been booted right away, others will leave, this one stayed. I dont scrounge interstates that often, but a lot of wood has been cut on them here in recent years. The number of times a cop has stopped over the years i can count on one hand. My opinion, scrounge where you are safest. Get a safety cone or two and wear "high visibility" shirt/vest. Take a ride from where i live and you will find wood roadside within minutes. Its a common sight. Some is logistically difficult to get and/or not safe to park and cut or species i dont want.
I've stated this before and still believe it because it is true. Unless you have permission to take, it is illegal. That goes for highways and right of ways. Yes, many times you can get away with it, but does that make it right? As US citizens we have a responsibility to do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do. In addition, when a person starts to believe it is okay to do wrong on little things it then becomes easier to do wrong on more important things; it is easy to build on. It is like a pilot who does some foolish thing but gets away with it, so then he starts to lose his fear of doing that and it is not so scary the next time so easier to do. Sadly many pilots have lost their life this way. In addition,in doing wrong, what are you teaching the younger folks? Sorry folks, but if you are taking in those places without permission, you are a thief and it is wrong.
ROW’s are owned by someone. I wouldn’t take wood off them until I knew it was ok with the property owner
Same exact experience for me. Luckily don’t need to do much of this anymore but if I did I wouldn’t hesitate as long as I could park safely way off the highway
I hear what you’re saying. I do. But here in NY the government steals from us at a ridiculous rate. I’d say you’re just taking back some of what’s yours.
Many ways to look at it. The wood belongs to the “state” who/whatever that is. Who does the state work for? They’re supposed to work for we the people. Okay so it belongs to us? Not quite. They take from we the people. That’s like an employer taking from an employee, yes? Ahhhh but they offer things like highways, schools, social programs and infrastructure in return. So it’s an exchange of money for goods and services? But they take too much you say, it’s your right to even playing field! I think if you’re going to do it, that’s a decision between you and your own conscience and maybe the FHC doesn’t need to know about it.
And as someone guilty of doing it myself and not wanting to be a hypocrite, all I’ll say is I will no longer promote wood gathering from questionable sources. We all have free will to exercise. To each their own though.
Hi Dennis. If I were to find a downed tree on city ROW and wanted it, I'd have no reservations. Just like the city had no reservations in overcharging us for 24 years on our water bill by installing the wrong type of meter on the line, which was discovered after I put my foot down and demanded they bring an expert to assess the meter because it was, obvious to me, something wrong. My parents were alive at that time and had complained for years. I felt we were right, that something was wrong, and would not take any more crap; the mayor was trying to weasle out of it. Again. After the expert found that they installed the wrong meter 24 years prior and had overcharged to the tune of many thousands of dollars, they gave a credit of $500. Awful generous of them. Plus... the city would not lift a finger to do anything with a blowdown or cut down tree anyway; they'd just let it rot. I'm grabbing my saw now, going scouting, thanks for reminding me!
I have asked for permission for ROW scrounges in past years and have never been denied. Just a formality to go through I guess. BTW, it wouldn't be a scrounge if you got "asked to leave" or had to pay a fine for gathering it....would it?
I would scrounge on local township roads but that's it. Many PA drivers are bad to begin with then add all the distractions, forget it.
