Cops and crime...single female attempting stealth work van...Is it going to work out?

[rabiesandpeewee]

Hi There! New here...as you may have guessed. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br><br>I've been looking at posts on here, as well as videos on youtube, for a while. I bought a van, lumber, and insulation. I'm about halfway done with the "living area." I've put about 2 grand into this project, which is a lot for me.<br><br>I was feeling really great about my new adventure, until a few days ago. It was my FIRST NIGHT in the van. I was simply parked, and in the back for five minutes, in a strip mall parking lot. Someone called the cops! I wasn't planning on sleeping there. I was drilled with questions, van searched, and had my picture taken. Anyway, the rest of the story is in the "matters of the heart" section (https://vanlivingforum.com/?forum=183322). Who's to say I wasn't going to go shop in the Food Lion lot, in which I was parked? <br><br>WHAT LAW DID I BREAK, TO BE TREATED WITH SUCH SUSPICION AND DISDAIN?<br><br>So, I'm wondering if I will be able to find a nice balance of crime-ridden and cop-ridden. I'm a female, and my boyfriend is in another state for a few months. I'm considering paying someone 40-50 dollars a month for permission to park in their drive way. That way I'm less likely to get hassled, and have a front door to knock on, if things get scary.<br><br>I will admit, I'm feeling quite defeated. I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO NEVER GET HASSLED, AND WHERE YOU ALL PARK AT NIGHT AND DURING THE DAY.<br><br>EDIT--<br><br>Oh, wow, I didn't realize how many people had responded to my "matters of the heart" post. Thanks!

 

[Pikachu711]

Hi rabiesandPeeWee,<br><br>Welcome to the group! Sorry to hear your first night in your&nbsp;parked&nbsp;van&nbsp;was so "eventful." Having a visit from a&nbsp;law enforcement officer&nbsp;(LEO)&nbsp;is&nbsp;never pleasant.<br><br>It would&nbsp;help us to answer your&nbsp;questions if we knew the following information:<br><br>(1) What reason did&nbsp;the LEO give you for&nbsp;contacting&nbsp;you?<br>(2)&nbsp;What&nbsp;crime was the LEO&nbsp;investigating you since you&nbsp;were there only 5 minutes?<br>(3) What does your van look like (newer/used&nbsp;(some damage)/bad) etc?<br>(4) Did the LEO make you leave the property?<br><br>You may not have the answers to all these questions but a little more information would help us give you an honest answer to what may have happened the other day. Since you were there only 5 minutes something had to get the LEO's attention.<br><br>It does make sense to try to&nbsp;find&nbsp;someone to park in someone's&nbsp;driveway or on their property. That would give you some degree of "protection" rather than parking on the street or in a parking lot. I'd investigate this optoin further.<br><br>I found your original post as to the circumstances of your contact with the LEO. If you were just parked eating your McD's french fries parked next to a Food Lion store at approximately 6:05pm that in and of itself isn't a reason to investigate you. But it's an entirely different thing when the LEO was asking you questions for 15 minutes on the subject of your van. This part of the LEO encounter has me bafffled. It really is none of his business as to what you do with your van as long you are not breaking any laws. This may have been a case of an overzealous LEO who acted on his own iniative and decided to investigate you&nbsp;&amp; your van. Unfortunately this does happen now&nbsp;&amp; again. Sorry you had a bad experience!<br><br>I fail to see what business it is of the LEO to ask you questions for 15 minutes about your van. You were parked on private property eating food purchased from a local fast-food restaurant. It may have been just a case of a LEO investigating in his mind was a suspicious vehicle. But at 6:00pm, well... This has me baffled.<br><br>

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

I have to say, I was quite baffled, as well. I think it's because the area is VERY rich, and borders a city with one of the highest homocide rates in the country. LOTS of uptight people.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;1. Someone called and reported that I had parked the vehicle, climbed in the back, and that the van started moving. This wasn't true. I walked to McDonald's first.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;2. The only answer I got was that I was being a vagrant. I guess since I didn't park in the neighboring McDonald's parking lot (because the spaces were really small), but rather in the Food Lion lot, I was deemed a vagrant. However, 5 minutes in the back. How many people diddle around in their car for 5 minutes before they go in to buy groceries?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;3. It's an old white work van, 1995. Might have been part of it, due to the wealth of the area. Also, the trash bags in the side windows (actual tint on the back), and small amount of light shining over the partition wall.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;4. Well, they said I was free to park in the McDonald's parking lot, but I got the **** out of there. They really wanted to put me in a shelter. I didn't want to be hassled any more about it!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Thanks for your support!

 

[Pikachu711]

It does seem rather odd that after only 5 minutes someone would call the local the police to investigate a van parked in a parking lot during business hours. Hmm...<br><br>If there were laws against vagrancy it might give the LEO "probable cause" to investigate what you were doing for five minutes in the back of you van. As you mentioned, I've seen people do things with their vehicles spending five minutes arranging or rearranging things isn't unusual.<br><br>I suppose that a vehicle that doesn't fit the usual "profile" for any given part of town may generate some interest on a LEO"s part. Even moreso if the majority of the windows of your van are covered as well. Based upon the area of town this Food Lion was located the LEO's may be watching what in their mind was a "suspicious" vehicle.<br><br>Nice of the LEO to mention that you could park in the McDonald's parking lot after asking you 15 minutes of questions that put you ill at ease. Under the circumstances I don't blame you for wanting to leave the area as promptly &amp; quickly as possible.<br><br>Have a great day!

 

[ccbreder]

I just heard on the radio that LA police were shooting at a truck that resembled one they were looking for. <br><br>in my experience neighborhoods do make a difference.

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

Ya, they were just paranoid meanies. There weren't any signs about loitering. They just thought I looked, "odd." I just hope I don't have to run into that again any time soon! I think they knew they couldn't legally tell me to leave. But, between the lines, they were saying, "we will figure out a way to scare you out of this neighborhood." Stupid close-minded losers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I've been asking around for a paid parking spot, but no dice, as of right now. I'm trying to stay positive, though. All I need is one "yes!"&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;You have a great day/night as well! &lt;img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"&gt;

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

I think the officer might have been lying when he said he got a call. Hard to believe they could receive a complaint as soon as I got in my vehicle, and respond within five minutes. <br><br>I was worried about being arrested because of my two dogs. If I get arrested, I think they get put in the pound. This is much scarier to me than a ticket. So, they did ask if they could search the van, and I told them yes, because I wanted the whole thing to be over with faster. I thought if they could look around and see that I wasn't making drugs, or having an orgy, they'd just leave me alone, but they didn't.<br><br>The thing is...it was TWO officers, so I felt really intimidated. I was worried about taking down their information for the same reason I was worried about refusing their request to search the vehicle. I have no clue who they were, so I can't file a complaint. I have a sneaky feeling that the entire police department of that area is like that. Apparently some of my friends have had bizarrely negative interactions with the LEO's in the area. I found that out after this incident.<br><br>I hope, and I think, that it was just a fluke, and like you say, that they were a few bad officers amid many good ones. I am never going to that part of town again, however. I mean, never under any circumstances! It's not that nice, anyway!<br><br>Thanks again <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[sparky1]

I have read most of what you said---no where did i see i'm (HERE) in this city-<BR>DUH,&nbsp;&amp; need a place to park?<BR>i am probably the only one that always says where I am--why are people wanting help--&amp; REFUSE to say where they are.can't help if your in austrailia..either.what's so hard about adding a state,abrevation.<BR><BR>sparky1 in s,va.

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

Hi Sparky,<br><br>I have a job as a substitute teacher, and one day hope to be full time. I don't want to risk the police somehow finding out that there's a female of my description living in her van in such and such city. I want to avoid trouble, and ANY activity on my record. Maybe I will come around and post my city and state, but until then, I don't feel it wise. Is that paranoid? Maybe.<br><br>-R+P

 

[DownByTheRiver]

I don't think that is paranoid.

99.9 percent of this forum are great people. It's that one person that you have to worry about. If he gets offended by something you say, and knows what you van looks like and what town or city you Vandwell in...

There may also be cops who Google "living in a van" after harassing vandwellers and find this forum.

I don't think that I would give permission for a search of my van. I don't do drugs but I have seen episodes of National Geographic's "Border Wars" where 6 officers will totally destroy the vehicles while searching.

I have spent countless hours insulating my van and would hate for some over-zealous cop to destroy it.

 

[Pikachu711]

I understand that law enforcement officers (LEO) have&nbsp;difficult jobs so I&nbsp;air on the side of caution when it comes to&nbsp;requests for any searches of my vehicle.<BR><BR>When it comes to requests to search any vehicle I'm operating I say some version of the following statement.&nbsp;Here's the statement:<BR><BR>"Officer, with all respect due, I know you have a difficult job to do but&nbsp;I am opposed to warrantless searches."<BR><BR>Feel free to change this statement to whatever works best for you. But keep it short &amp; direct stating that you don't want your vehicle searched without a search warrant. Be prepared for a less than friendly response to this statement.<BR><BR>As others&nbsp;already&nbsp;mentioned, if you allow a LEO to search your vehicle anything&nbsp;found in your vehicle&nbsp;can be used be used against you in court of law. For your own protection you should never allow your vehicle to be seached by a LEO. The moment you allow your vehicle to be searched you can get into some serious legal issues. Just say NO!<BR><BR>A few years ago I&nbsp;received this advice from a retired LEO.&nbsp;I asked him how he handles&nbsp;requests from LEO's to search his personal vehicle. His response was quick and to the point. He said, "HELL NO!" Here's his&nbsp;reasoning for&nbsp;not&nbsp;allowing his vehicle to be searched by a LEO.<BR><BR>Imagine that you have just picked your vehicle from a garage where it needed some&nbsp;maintenance performed. Hypothetically,&nbsp;the&nbsp;mechanic who serviced your vehicle&nbsp;uses illegal drugs. While&nbsp;sitting in your vehicle&nbsp;some of his&nbsp;illegal drugs has fallen out&nbsp;of one of his pockets and into YOUR vehicle and goes unnoticed.&nbsp;If a LEO finds these same illegal drugs in your vehicle that makes them YOUR illegal drugs. It just doesn't make sense to allow a LEO to search your vehicle.<BR><BR>For you own protection&nbsp;you shouldn't be allowing LEO's to search your vehicle.<BR><BR>JMHO!

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

Thanks, DownByTheRiver! I really am a paranoid worry wart, but this mindset has served me just fine, in life. I'd rather be cautious than sorry (although I guess anyone willing to live in a van can't be TOO much of a worrier...)<br>

It's that one person that you have to worry about. If he gets offended by something you say, and knows what you van looks like and what town or city you Vandwell in...

<br>So true. For me, what is most destructive is not that 1 in a million person actually hurting me, but WORRYING about that person being out there, when I'm trying to get to sleep at night.<br>

There may also be cops who Google "living in a van" after harassing vandwellers and find this forum.

<br>This is the main reason. Plus...you never know what kind of homeland security threat lists you might be on, these days. I've shared lots of personal info, and don't want it tied to a city, where I could be sought out.<br>

I have spent countless hours insulating my van and would hate for some over-zealous cop to destroy it.

<br>Well, I haven't spent my painstaking hours of insulation installation yet. It is coming! I just had a bit of reflectix on the ceiling. That could be a DISASTER, if they wanted to rip apart the walls, and such! What kind of insulation did you put up? I'm going to put up fiberglass, and cover everything with plywood. It will be a major project...groan! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

Pikachu: I like that you say "no," but in a respectful manner. I will probably try that "next time" (I hope there isn't one).

 

[blkjak]

<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>welcome .... blkjak</strong></span>

 

[ccbreder]

If there is any reason to stop your vehicle, (such as seat belt violation or other)&nbsp; the LEO can look in a window and "see" something in "plain sight".