Editing Geocaching (section)

==Reception==
The reception from authorities and the general public outside geocache participants has been mixed.
[[File:The Shambles, Wetherby - geograph.org.uk - 348639.jpg|thumb|The Shambles, a road in [[Wetherby]], [[Yorkshire]], England, was the site of a controlled explosion on a geocache container in 2011 which was mistakenly perceived to be a bomb.]]
Cachers have been approached by [[police]] and questioned when they were seen as acting suspiciously.<ref>{{cite web |title=GAGB&nbsp;– Agreements Database |url=http://www.gagb.co.uk/gagb/glad/agreement_view.php?p=40 |work=GAGB Land Agreements Database |access-date=October 2, 2009 |archive-date=September 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908233223/http://www.gagb.co.uk/agreement_view.php?p=40 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Suspicious Package Not a Bomb |url=http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2010/01/08/news/top_stories/pipe_bomb_geochaching_geocache_midland_academy_sports.txt |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904171554/http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2010/01/08/news/top_stories/pipe_bomb_geochaching_geocache_midland_academy_sports.txt |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |work=MyWestTexas.com |access-date=January 10, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Dahlberg-2011">{{cite book |last=Dahlberg |first=Johan |title=Experiences from the Field |publisher=The Geocaching Pocket Series |year=2011 |pages=34}}</ref> Other times, investigation of a cache location after suspicious activity was reported has resulted in police and [[bomb disposal|bomb squad]] discovery of the geocache,<ref>{{cite news |last=Corum |first=Molly |title=Geocaching: Awesome Scavenger Hunt, or Bomb Threat Waiting to Happen? |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/geocaching-awesome-scavenger-hunt-or-bomb-threat-waiting-happen-296371 |access-date=January 23, 2013 |newspaper=International Business Times |date=July 6, 2011 |archive-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927045823/https://www.ibtimes.com/geocaching-awesome-scavenger-hunt-or-bomb-threat-waiting-happen-296371 |url-status=live}}</ref> such as the evacuation of a busy street in [[Wetherby]], [[Yorkshire]], England in 2011,<ref name="Savage-2011"/> and a street in [[Alvaston]], [[Derby]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bokros |first=Tom |date=2020-06-03 |title=This is what the suspicious package found in Derby really was |work=[[Derby Telegraph]] |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/live-updates-police-close-road-4190714 |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127093511/https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/live-updates-police-close-road-4190714 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Schools have been evacuated when a cache has been seen by teachers or police, such as the case of [[Fairview High School (Boulder, Colorado)|Fairview High School]] in [[Boulder, Colorado]] in 2009.<ref name="Mike Vogel">{{cite web |author=Mike Vogel |title=Geocache player broke all the rules of Internet treasure hunt |publisher=[[Boise, Idaho]] |url=http://www.ktvb.com/news/topstories/stories/ktvbn-sept2805-geocaching.a28aee2c.html |access-date=September 28, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202181644/http://www.ktvb.com/news/topstories/stories/ktvbn-sept2805-geocaching.a28aee2c.html |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }}</ref> A number of caches have been destroyed by bomb squads.<ref name="Savage-2011">{{cite news |last=Savage |first=Danny |title=Geocaching: the unintended results |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-14039229 |access-date=January 17, 2013 |newspaper=BBC News |date=July 5, 2011 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034026/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-14039229 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/zz/20090522/NEWS/905229856 |title=Bomb scare closes main entrance to UCSC |date=May 22, 2009 |author=Turner, Ramona |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829130705/http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/ZZ/20090522/NEWS/905229856 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Deseret News-2005">{{cite news |title=Detonated 'bomb' turns out to be box of toys |work=The Deseret News |date=November 12, 2005 |url=https://www.deseret.com/2005/11/12/19922311/detonated-bomb-turns-out-to-be-box-of-toys/ |access-date=August 7, 2009 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629045455/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/635160668/Detonated-bomb-turns-out-to-be-box-of-toys.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=One person's game is another's bomb scare |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=July 29, 2008 |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c7628126-a0f6-4a9e-a396-a40fa1948eab |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202115708/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c7628126-a0f6-4a9e-a396-a40fa1948eab |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rocha |first=Veronica |title=Suspicious object found on Glendale power pole determined to be safe |url=http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2013-01-14/news/tn-818-0114-authorities-determine-suspicious-object-found-on-glendale-power-pole-to-be-safe_1_power-pole-suspicious-object-bomb-squad |access-date=January 17, 2013 |newspaper=Glendale News-Press |date=January 14, 2013 |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328011544/http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2013-01-14/news/tn-818-0114-authorities-determine-suspicious-object-found-on-glendale-power-pole-to-be-safe_1_power-pole-suspicious-object-bomb-squad |url-status=live}}</ref> Diverse locations, from rural cemeteries to [[Disneyland]], have been locked down as a result of such scares.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rochelle |first=Anna |title=Suspected pipe bomb ends up being geocache tube |url=http://www.gcdailyworld.com/story/1890701.html |access-date=January 21, 2013 |newspaper=Greene County Daily World |date=September 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523184936/http://www.gcdailyworld.com/story/1890701.html |archive-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jason |first=Kandel |title=Geocaching Game Triggers Disneyland Lockdown |url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SDDisneyland-Shut-Down-Due-to-Suspicious-Item-141296953.html |access-date=January 21, 2013 |newspaper=NBCUniversal, Inc. |date=March 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816003532/https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SDDisneyland-Shut-Down-Due-to-Suspicious-Item-141296953.html |archive-date=August 16, 2013}}</ref>

The placement of geocaches has occasional critics among some government personnel and the public at large, who consider it [[littering]].<ref name="Backpacker-2008">{{cite news |url=https://www.backpacker.com/skills/navigation/does-geocaching-violate-leave-no-trace/amp/ |title=Does Geocaching Violate Leave No Trace? - Backpacker |date=2008-05-07 |newspaper=Backpacker |access-date=2016-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202050402/http://www.backpacker.com/skills/navigation/does-geocaching-violate-leave-no-trace/amp/ |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.100peaks.com/blog/2012/12/22/geocaching-organized-littering |title=Geocaching - Organised Littering? |last=Loranger |first=Derek |date=2012-12-22 |website=100 Peaks |access-date=2018-02-27 |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923235417/https://www.100peaks.com/blog/2012/12/22/geocaching-organized-littering |url-status=live}}</ref> Some geocachers act to mitigate this perception by picking up litter while they search for geocaches, a practice referred to in the community as "Cache In Trash Out".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/geocaching-photos_n_5850714 |title=Oh The Places You'll Go: Geocaching Takes Adventurers To Beautiful, New Spots Every Day |last=Boehrer, McGonial |first=Katherine, Chris |date=2014-09-28 |work=[[Huffington Post]] |access-date=2018-02-27 |archive-date=February 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228161455/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/geocaching-photos_n_5850714 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Backpacker-2008"/> Events and caches are often organized revolving around this practice, with many areas seeing significant cleanup that would otherwise not take place, or would instead require federal, state, or local funds to accomplish. Geocachers are also encouraged to clean up after themselves by retrieving old containers once a cache has been removed from play.

Geocaching is legal in most countries and is usually positively received when explained to law enforcement officials.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2013/09/advice-to-geocache-hiders-from-law-enforcement/ |title=Advice to Geocache Hiders from Law Enforcement |date=2013-09-04 |newspaper=The Geocaching Blog |access-date=2016-12-22 |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923235336/https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2013/09/advice-to-geocache-hiders-from-law-enforcement/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Dahlberg-2011"/> However, certain types of placements can be problematic. Although generally disallowed, hiders could place caches on private property without adequate permission (intentionally or otherwise), which encourages cache finders to trespass. Historic buildings and structures have also been damaged by geocachers, who have wrongly believed the geocache can be/has been placed within, or on the roof of, the buildings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nathan |first1=Freddie |title=Geocaching craze leaves York residents underwhelmed |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/geocaching-craze-leaves-york-residents-underwhelmed-8550208.html |access-date=26 July 2020 |work=The Independent |date=2013-03-26 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726230014/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/geocaching-craze-leaves-york-residents-underwhelmed-8550208.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
Caches might also be hidden in places where the act of searching can make a finder look suspicious (e.g., near schools, children's playgrounds, banks, courthouses, or in residential neighborhoods), or where the container placement could be mistaken for a [[drug]] stash or a [[bomb]] (especially in urban settings, under bridges,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/06/03/police-search-for-gamer-who-hung-geocache-from-railroad-overpass/ |title=Police Search For Gamer Who Hung Geocache From Railroad Overpass |date=June 3, 2011 |newspaper=The Naperville Sun and CBS Chicago |access-date=January 23, 2013 |archive-date=July 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704215859/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/06/03/police-search-for-gamer-who-hung-geocache-from-railroad-overpass/ |url-status=live}}</ref> near banks, courthouses, or embassies). As a result, geocachers are strongly advised to label their geocaches when possible, so that they are not mistaken for a harmful object if discovered by non-geocachers.<ref name="The Deseret News-2005"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gagb.org.uk/cache-labels.php |title=GAGB Geocache labels |publisher=Geocaching Association of Great Britain |access-date=2017-01-17 |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104180610/https://www.gagb.org.uk/cache-labels.php |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Geocache.jpg|thumb|A geocache that has been clearly labelled, in order to clarify that the container is harmless, intending to reduce alarm if it is accidentally discovered]]
As well as concerns about littering and bomb threats, some geocachers have hidden their caches in inappropriate locations, such as electrical boxes, which may encourage risky behavior, especially by children. Hides in these areas are discouraged,<ref name="Mike Vogel"/> and cache listing websites enforce guidelines that disallow certain types of placements. However, as cache reviewers typically cannot see exactly where and how every cache is hidden, problematic hides can slip through. Ultimately it is also up to cache finders to use discretion when attempting to search for a cache, and report any problems.

===Laws and legislation===
Regional rules for placement of caches have become complex. For example, in Virginia, the [[Virginia Department of Transportation]] and the Wildlife Management Agency now forbids the placement of geocaches on all land controlled by those agencies. Some cities, towns, and recreation areas allow geocaches with few or no restrictions, but others require compliance with lengthy permitting procedures.<ref>[https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/Virginia Groundspeak's Wiki for Virginia's land management policies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918080012/https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/Virginia |date=September 18, 2020}}, retrieved January 12, 2013</ref>

The [[South Carolina House of Representatives]] passed Bill 3777<ref>[http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess116_2005-2006/bills/3777.htm 2005–2006 Bill 3777: Geocache, geocaching, and letterboxing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926011205/http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess116_2005-2006/bills/3777.htm |date=September 26, 2009}} South Carolina Legislature Online</ref> in 2005, stating, "It is unlawful for a person to engage in the activity of Geocaching or letterboxing in a cemetery or in a historic or archaeological site or property publicly identified by a historical marker without the express written consent of the owner or entity which oversees that cemetery site or property." The bill was referred to committee on first reading in the Senate and has been there ever since.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thecolumbiastar.com/news/2005-05-20/Front_Page/001.html |title=High–tech scavenger hunt Geocachers invade hallowed ground |last=Haynie |first=Rachel |date=May 20, 2005 |publisher=Columbia Star |access-date=March 3, 2010 |archive-date=December 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228060249/http://www.thecolumbiastar.com/news/2005-05-20/Front_Page/001.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Illinois Department of Natural Resources]] requires geocachers who wish to place a geocache at any Illinois state park to submit the location on a USGS 7.5 minute topographical map, the name and contact information of the person(s) wishing to place the geocache, a list of the original items to be included in the geocache, and a picture of the container that is to be placed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/pages/geocaching.aspx |title=Recreation |website=dnr.illinois.gov |access-date=2019-10-02 |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019095535/https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/recreation/Pages/Geocaching.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the [[Township (Canada)|township]] of [[Highlands East, Ontario|Highlands East]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] temporarily banned geocaching, over concerns that geocache containers could not be properly [[Disinfectant|disinfected]] between finds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public beaches, geocaching and mineral collection sites closed |url=https://www.highlandseast.ca/en/news/public-beaches-geocaching-and-mineral-collection-sites-closed.aspx |date=2020-04-02 |website=Municipality of Highlands East |access-date=2020-05-12 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212134551/https://www.highlandseast.ca/en/news/public-beaches-geocaching-and-mineral-collection-sites-closed.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>