Chuck Ferrara

We are having some issues with this down here in Southwest Florida with lack of access and pits to go to. Collectors are now “thinking outside the box” and looking for places to go. It’s not just the DOT road work sites, but also the gated communities! Regarding the construction sites, my view (which I just wrote about in our newsletter) is that we need to ask permission. You need to ask permission – just like what Paul Roth said – with the manager who’s operating the construction site. Unfortunately, some of these people are collecting during the work week when workers are present and construction machinery is on, and it’s causing problems. The amateur/educational clubs can talk to their members about ethics and asking for permission, but it’s hard to reach the independent collectors out there who don’t necessarily follow some of the ethical standards, so they may push the grey area and do things they shouldn’t do. I received a couple of strongly-worded emails last rainy season from presidents of homeowners associations citing concerns of privacy and safety. People were trespassing through construction entrances at night by flashlight to collect in a gated community! This definitely reflects badly on all of the amateur/avocational organizations who do good things for the community at large (and collectors as a whole). We all have to be more ethical and ask permission – that’s what I do! We don’t want to create an atmosphere where this becomes a problem and then the construction companies start complaining to the local city or county government — their response may be to create more rules and regulations, or possibly fines for trespassing. I do not want to see this happen. Remember the unethical action of a few can ruin it for the many!