Here's my story and I'm sticking to it

[mikEXpat]

Has a law enforcement officer knocked on your window or door? Bet you were nervous. Do you acknowledge their presence? Or do you keep silent?

What's your story? 

For me. Well. I'm not on the road yet but I would use my wife and the divorce card. She threw me out. This is what I have to live in. 

What about you?

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Just enjoying some retirement travel

 

[GotSmart]

So you have an out of state (country) ID and you start lying to LEO who has access to every database in the world via the person on the other end of his body mike? 

I am seeing the country, and was too tired to drive further.  I have nothing to hide. In this spot I was working and did not have a safe site located.

I spent several nights at this park in N~CA, After 3 days a knock came on the window.  I heard a radio and a dog, so I knew it was LEO.  I opened the shade and lowered the window to speak with him. He rra my out of state ID, and told me not to be there tomorrow after closing time.  He was looking for someone who had committed a murder 100 miles away.  

The next morning I got this shot of a large flock of pelicans doing a feeding line.  They get in a line and heard the fish toward shore, then have easy pickings.

 

[TMG51]

It'll happen sooner or later. I'm not bothered by talking to police. I just tell the truth: I'm doing this by choice, I'm also remotely employed, here's my card, I'll be gone in an hour. My best piece of advice is to always be clean and presentable. First impressions matter. I've had police apologize to me before on that basis, "I can see you're clean cut, you're not up to anything..." because I didn't look like a dirty bum they felt I was a citizen and not a problem.

Speaking of databases, last week (in SoCal) I had two cops check up on me and I was amused to overhear one say to the other he didn't bother running my plates because they wouldn't come back in time (Vermont plates). I didn't know those limitations still existed. The same officers asked to search my van and I declined.

 

[cyndi]

There's a similar discussion, here: https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-W...n-the-LEO-knocks-at-the-door?highlight=police

 

[Raven+Squid]

...I am seeing the country, and was too tired to drive further....

This is probably all you need. And being polite.

 

[Raven+Squid]

There's a similar discussion, here:  https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-W...n-the-LEO-knocks-at-the-door?highlight=police

I should have followed the link

 

[USExplorer]

My response depends on where I am parked. One late night in rural Virginia I parked off a gravel road up in a wooded area. After the cop informed me at 3 am that the land I was parked on was posted and I was trespassing, I apologized and prepared to leave. The cop then directed me to a truck stop a few miles down the road where I would be parked, then drove off. No demand for ID or request to search my truck.

Every other time I have been caught (sleeping or awake) the cops have told me that I am not breaking any laws, but that they just wanted to make sure everything is all right, or they got a call. They often ask for ID but I politely refuse.

I would never advise lying to a cop, or telling a half-true story. Most cops are astute at picking out liars and you may find yourself the subject of an interrogation which forces you to tell more lies and half-truths to back up your original story.

Personally, if a cop is being friendly and conversational I don't have a problem telling them about my travels. If they are playing hard-ass interrogator I say as little as possible.

 

[Raven+Squid]

Not giving your ID will have a tendency to escalate the situation. Its the "unfortunate" reality of the world we live in and have always lived in.

 

[Fivealive]

After doing this for 2.5 years we have spent many nights in large citys that have laws against car camping. We have a truck camper and make no attempts at being stealth. I have found that even in places where it is against the law, if you park smart, you won't have an issue. Also when the cops do come and give you a knock, just tell them your on you way and then proceed to pack up and leave. I have never needed any extravagant story and it has never been a big deal. I have had maybe 10 cop interactions in the 2.5 years and every one of them was very reasonable, I think only a couple of them bothered to run my ID. In my experience they just want you to move, they don't need/want to hear your life story! Even though I always start by saying I'm going to head out, more often then not they tell me I don't have to leave till the morning, and just not to park here again.

I had one instance where I was a scenic road going threw some BLM land. It was in a canyon and there was very little for turn out parking. The road just had day use lots, paid campgrounds, and small turn outs here and there. A county sheriff gave us the knock around 9PM or so, told us we were not doing anything wrong however he thought the turn out was a bit small so he recommended that we just pull into the campground down the block. He said don't worry about paying for it, the rangers are gone for the night and won't be back until around 10am the next day. It was a huge surprise, because here was a LEO telling us to go break the law. So we did just that, had a nice campground spot for the night and relocated to the day use lot when it opened at 6am.

 

[Fivealive]

Thinking about it, this is most likely very location specific. The above story took place in Oregon, and the LEOs in Oregon have by far been the nicest, friendliest, most understand LEO's I have ever encountered. By contrast, in California they always seem to start out with a very suspicious attitude, they act like you either have a meth lab in the camper or your some criminal on the run, but as soon as they learn your neither of those, they chill out and become reasonable. I seriously think its a class thing, in Oregon they are very tolerant and understanding of folks who don't have much money. In cali if you have an older rig they seem to think you must be a criminal of some sort.

 

[buckwilk]

My response depends on where I am parked. One late night in rural Virginia I parked off a gravel road up in a wooded area. After the cop informed me at 3 am that the land I was parked on was posted and I was trespassing, I apologized and prepared to leave. The cop then directed me to a truck stop a few miles down the road where I would be parked, then drove off. No demand for ID or request to search my truck.

Every other time I have been caught (sleeping or awake) the cops have told me that I am not breaking any laws, but that they just wanted to make sure everything is all right, or they got a call. They often ask for ID but I politely refuse.

I would never advise lying to a cop, or telling a half-true story. Most cops are astute at picking out liars and you may find yourself the subject of an interrogation which forces you to tell more lies and half-truths to back up your original story.

Personally, if a cop is being friendly and conversational I don't have a problem telling them about my travels. If they are playing hard-ass interrogator I say as little as possible.

If you are in a motor vehicle anywhere in the U S you are required by law to present your license when requested by LE. Regardless whether you are moving or not.

 

[buckwilk]

 A county sheriff gave us the knock around 9PM or so, told us we were not doing anything wrong however he thought the turn out was a bit small so he recommended that we just pull into the campground down the block.  He said don't worry about paying for it, the rangers are gone for the night and won't be back until around 10am the next day.  It was a huge surprise, because here was a LEO telling us to go break the law.  So we did just that, had a nice campground spot for the night and relocated to the day use lot when it opened at 6am.

A clueless county cop told you to camp without paying, you know that's against the law and yet you did it anyway? There are costs associated with a campground. Upkeep, repair, trash hauling, toilets etc. I would urge everyone to make an effort to pay fees where they stay and understand that what you do reflects down the road on everyone in a van or camper.

 

[cyndi]

I might very well have done the same thing under the same conditions. But then, I'm not one to argue with a cop, clueless or otherwise.

 

[GotSmart]

A clueless county cop told you to camp without paying, you know that's against the law and yet you did it anyway? There are costs associated with a campground. Upkeep, repair, trash hauling, toilets etc. I would urge everyone to make an effort to pay fees where they stay and understand that what you do reflects down the road on everyone in a van or camper.

One thing I learned in business, that by giving someone a "free sample" and a smile you are more inclined to make a big sale.  

LEO was doing a couple things.  He was making sure that he would not have to come back with an ambulance, and also acting as a goodwill ambassador for the tourism in that place.  

Fivealive, where was that at?  It sounds like a place I would like to visit.

 

[Fivealive]

Haha, judging both me and a nice friendly sherrif that you don't even know.  There always is that guy huh,  This is why most people keep thier stories to themselves ya know.  Ill never really understand the mentality of those who are always trying to keep everyone else in line.  I don't believe for a second that they are really as noble in real life as the righteous rants they spew online. I'm sure the keyboard warrior will now respond with just how great of a model citizen he is offline and on.  Well golf clap for this guy.
Haha, sorry sorry I shouldn't be taking offense to such things I know...  As for where I was good question.  The name of the canyon is not coming to mind, but it was central Oregon up in the high dessert.

 

[Fivealive]

OK I did take some offense obviously and I apologize for my harsh reaction. I just want to add though that I seek out BLM land vs a state park or whatever else because I am trying to avoid built up infrastructure and camping fees. I get that it cost the blm money to have a developed campground but why do they have it in the first place? There are plenty of options for those who want that sort of thing, personally I would rather the blm land stay
primitive and free. I never used and of the amenities of that campground and I had no interest in them.

 

[highdesertranger]

not all, but a lot of BLM campgrounds are free. the trick here is to not camp right on the road shoulder. find a dirt road and drive off the highway a little and your good to go. I do this all the time when traveling from point A to point B. highdesertranger

 

[nobodyG17]

A clueless county cop told you to camp without paying, you know that's against the law and yet you did it anyway? There are costs associated with a campground. Upkeep, repair, trash hauling, toilets etc. I would urge everyone to make an effort to pay fees where they stay and understand that what you do reflects down the road on everyone in a van or camper.

It was a safety issue and they fixed it.   Sorry your feelings were hurt on a situation you know nothing about.  I have never seen anyone white knight a BLM campground before.

 

[DannyB1954]

I used to drive through Yosemite to get to my other house before I sold it. I wasn't sight seeing or camping, just driving on a State highway. $20 seemed a bit high for the use of a State highway that I already was paying for, so I would drive through late at night when all the gates were unmanned. Last couple of times they started manning the North gate, (going to Groveland), 24/7. I had to pay to get out.
So on one hand I was justified, on the other not. But the same is true for them to charge me. I think the Officer referring someone to a campsite was good discretionary judgement. A person with money to burn would probably not choose a camp next to a main road. Forcing someone tired to drive is not safe, and charging someone on limited funds for the privilege of sleeping also seems unfair. When you think about it, public lands are owned by us and are funded with taxes. So being charged to use what you own doesn't seem right either. National parks are supposed to be for the benifit of all citizens, not just the one's with money.