Being Undetected

[Pikachu711]

If you do this, are you up front with them about staying in you vehicle overnight or do you hide that fact and hope you're not discovered?

<br /><br />I'm considering visiting So. California for a few weeks when I "escape" Las Vegas next year. In San Diego I've found&nbsp;parking spaces&nbsp;that could be rented on a monthly basis. The same applies for private garages as well. If I'm renting a parking space or garage there's&nbsp;no need to hide the fact that I'm living in my van. What I do in my van in my rented parking space is my business.<br /><br />I'll be 56 years old when I "hit the&nbsp;road" next year.&nbsp;I have a few years to go before I can retire. I'll have to work at least part-time to pay my monthly expenses.&nbsp;Knowing I had a "place" to park my van&nbsp;after working is a plus in my book. Again, I wouldn't care what anyone thought about what I did in my rented parking space or garage.<br /><br />I'm&nbsp;not saying that I'll&nbsp;live in San Diego but I'm only using it as an example. If I opt to live in a&nbsp;larger city having somewhere to park my van will help. This way I won't have to wander that particular city looking for a place to park any given day.<br /><br />I hope that this better explains why renting a parking space or garage may be a&nbsp;viable option if you plan on&nbsp;living in one primary location for a few months.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[offroad]

If you rent a 24 accessable parking space for a month. Think you are likely to be okay.

1) If the owner of the space gets grumpy, ask for a full refund. But what if they refuse, and change the code to lock you out of your space? maybe ask about the mechanics of the space for 24 hour access, and see if they could lock you out, if they discovered you sleeping there? Bet there are rules with a parking contract, written and saying specifically NO SLEEPING IN VEHICLES.

2) Do these spaces have a owner who patrols the space?

3) For a month, it might cost more to drag you to court to kick you out of your space.

 

[Pikachu711]

If you rent a 24 accessable parking space for a month. Think you are likely to be okay. 1) If the owner of the space gets grumpy, ask for a full refund. But what if they refuse, and change the code to lock you out of your space? maybe ask about the mechanics of the space for 24 hour access, and see if they could lock you out, if they discovered you sleeping there? Bet there are rules with a parking contract, written and saying specifically NO SLEEPING IN VEHICLES. 2) Do these spaces have a owner who patrols the space? 3) For a month, it might cost more to drag you to court to kick you out of your space.

<br /><br />Renting a parking space or a garage will be on a case by case basis. I'm NOT talking about storage units! That's a given. Like a lease on an apartment,&nbsp;I'm sure there will be conditions&nbsp;&amp; stipulations. I'll&nbsp;rent something that&nbsp;will take into account the fact that I'll be living in my van. If there are stipulations that don't allow&nbsp;sleeping&nbsp;in my van I obviously won't rent that&nbsp;parking space or garage.<br /><br />As to the owner who may patrol the property or even a security patrol on property they can't do much&nbsp;to me.&nbsp;Once&nbsp;I've signed a rental agreement or lease the owner has very little say in the issue.&nbsp;Doing this will avoid any reason to "drag" me to court.&nbsp;That's why I'd insist on a&nbsp;lease.&nbsp;If there were&nbsp;clauses that didn't allow me to live in my&nbsp;van, I obviously wouldn't rent that parking space or garage.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[angeli]

I saw a story not too long ago, maybe on YouTube, about a gentleman who works and van dwells in a hightop cargo van, parks in rent-a-space behind a fence.&nbsp; The owner likes him there because he adds to the security.&nbsp; The guy has an amazing solar/computer setup and is not entirely stealthy to my way of thinking! LOL!!&nbsp; But he doesn't have to be and is quite happy, or was when he made the vid.&nbsp; I'm sure someone here has seen this, or knows the man, and I apologize for my poor memory cells.&nbsp; But it sounds like a win/win and not all that far out an option for city van dwellers.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I think i seen that video <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; Hes got the interior covered in reflectix and an old style tv in there.&nbsp; I think there was another camper in there too.<br /><br />I don't know if thats just a rented parking spot like most you see though, more like a deal he made with the guy that owns a fenced lot.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />I worked in a town that had parking spots for rent, and they were usually pretty tight spots clumped together.&nbsp; Had some rules and a contract too, so I'd say be careful about the fine print.

 

[Pikachu711]

I think i seen that video <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" />&nbsp; Hes got the interior covered in reflectix and an old style tv in there.&nbsp; I think there was another camper in there too.<br /><br />I don't know if thats just a rented parking spot like most you see though, more like a deal he made with the guy that owns a fenced lot.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />I worked in a town that had parking spots for rent, and they were usually pretty tight spots clumped together.&nbsp; Had some rules and a contract too, so I'd say be careful about the fine print.

<br /><br />You very&nbsp;correct! Whenever you rent anything there are conditions, restrictions, etc. that must be addressed when you first READ the lease. The last thing I want to do is rent a parking space or garage&nbsp;that has restrictions that won't allow me to live in my van. If there is even one clause that stipulates that I cannot live in my van, I can't sign that lease. I know that somewhere there IS a parking space or garage that is rentable for a van dweller. That bridge I'll cross when I get to that point.

 

[angeli]

It was pretty clear that this guy had made a deal with the property owner.

 

[Pikachu711]

<p>Yesterday I was out driving around and I stopped at a local second-hand store. As I was leaving the property I noticed a white business type van in the parking lot. I saw something that would give van dwellers a secret to parking in a parking space in a commercial parking area.<br /><br />On the dashboard was a clipboard with&nbsp;what appeared to be&nbsp;work orders, invoices, receipts, etc. that would appear in any business type vehicle. Try putting some type of clipboard visable to people in the front of your van. If people see a clipboard with what appears to be business forms that might give you an edge to stay in "stealth" mode. You might even consider putting some type of construction hard hat in the front section of your van.</p>

 

[fredcdobbs]

<p>Yesterday I was out driving around and I stopped at a local second-hand store. As I was leaving the property I noticed a white business type van in the parking lot. I saw something that would give van dwellers a secret to parking in a parking space in a commercial parking area.<br /><br />On the dashboard was a clipboard with&nbsp;what appeared to be&nbsp;work orders, invoices, receipts, etc. that would appear in any business type vehicle. Try putting some type of clipboard visable to people in the front of your van. If people see a clipboard with what appears to be business forms that might give you an edge to stay in "stealth" mode. You might even consider putting some type of construction hard hat in the front section of your van.</p>

<br />Great idea. I wonder if it'd&nbsp;also be a good idea&nbsp;to sleep&nbsp;wearing a&nbsp;uniform with a name tag and boots on in case a cop comes a knocking?<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[ParadiseParrot]

TO the previous poster on tresspassing. You must be told by someone to leave or have completed an action on intent like breaking a gate or lock to be charged with trespass. Signs don't cut it. All they can do is ask you to move at which piont if you don't they can call Johnny Donut . And no one can tow your van if you drive it away. There is still a constitution and the 4th admendment even if it get ignored at lot. Why anyone would put themselves in this situation is beyond me. Find out ahead of time where and when you can park and check local laws about sleeping in your van on the street. The only reason for this is if your trying to be near work/gym etc. If your just traveling thru then find a free camp outside town on the various web sits and drive in in the morning to do your business.The job of LEO's is to find a reason to get your money. Why give them a reason to target you? They will move on to easier prey.<br /><br />Slap a Mag sign that says ACME HOUSE/PET SITTERS on your van if you need to park in a res area and there are nosy self important rent a cop around.<br /><br />Look on Couchsurfers web site on other same. People have lots or a side area they dont mind you using (not abusing). Meet people. People are great. No matter how nice you are LEO's have a blue wall metal illness. They think its US vs Them. You are Joe Dirtbag and they are the great protectors. Dont be a victim!

 

[Salida Scarlett]

I'd like to share for your enjoyment only that in a certain town in the San Gabriel Valley in California, you will ABSOLUTELY get a ticket if you park on the street all night. Any street in the town. Period. No warning.<br />However, if you call the police dept. with a license number, you will not be bothered. <br />There are no signs at the city boundaries, no anything.&nbsp; No notification of any kind.<br />&nbsp;One just has to know.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />I thought that since it's always been that way, perhaps I should look up the actual law.<br />Here goes:<br />"Section 10.32.210 of the&nbsp; Municipal Code prohibits parking any vehicle on a City street for more than one hour between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. There are a variety of reasons for the ordinance, but some major considerations are:<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Street cleaning.&nbsp;&nbsp; Having vehicles off the streets at night ensures that most streets will be clear for the street sweeping trucks in the morning.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beautification.&nbsp;&nbsp; Requiring vehicles to be parked off the streets makes the City a more attractive place to live.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lower crime.&nbsp;&nbsp; Vehicles parked on the street at night can be targets for theft and vandalism. Having most of them off the street also helps patrol officers see which ones might not belong in the area."<br /><br />Gotta love a college town...<br /><br /><br />Nelda

<br /><br />I guess they have a point and it makes sense. A couple years ago I decided to take the Amtrak across Kansas to Albuquerque just for the heck of it and the scenic ride. Only thing is I had to drive quite a ways to get to the station at Newton, KS. <br /><br />Anyway, there was a nice parking lot for Amtrak passengers, but there was a sign that if you left your vehicle, you'd have to call the PD with your name and lic number, or it would be towed. I felt like it was a pretty good deal and made me feel a little more secure in leaving my car there for the 4 days I was gone. The parking lot, by the way, was almost totally empty. <br /><br />Now, while in ABQ, my family lives way out in the suburbs and there are plenty of P&amp;R's along the route to the downtown, or to Santa Fe on the railway system. It's pretty awesome and I can't conceive there would be a problem, except possibly with potential vandalism, because these P&amp;R's there are so isolated and deserted at night.&nbsp; I'd hate to think some vandal would try to break in thinking that the owner was in town working a graveyard shift and create a "situation".&nbsp; Even when I lived in an apt in Denver there were guys who just went around looking for stuff to steal in vehicles in the parking garages. I've seen them before going from car to car, checking to see if they were locked. <br /><br />Scarlett<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[ilovemyvan]

a

 

[pirateexplorer]

Love the sticker/decal idea. Post an "honor student" decal on one side and a "DARE sticker" (or a "I support local police" like sticker) on the other end and you'll blend right in.<br><br>FWIW, in the neck of the woods in which I live, very dark tint is pretty common (and I don't even live down South, go figure), so I doubt that will raise any suspicion in and of itself. Tint is pretty cheap (&lt;$200 in these parts for a good job on both rear and side windows), so I think it is probably a pretty sound investment.<br><br>Will check out the previous thread suggested too (in my spare time, haha).<br><br>Thanks!<br>Wintersmith<br>

Bad call on the DARE sticker, in my experience most people who have DARE stickers are potheads mocking them or people putting them up thinking nobody will think I'm ripping bongs in the back of this van I have a DARE sticker.