Ignore the knock?

[DLTooley]

What can happen if you are not visible and ignore the knock?  I’m assuming you are in a place where you shouldn’t get towed.

 

[John61CT]

If they knock I'd assume they know I'm in there.

Infrared thermal imaging's not exactly high tech nor expensive these days.

 

[Matlock]

If I knew it was a uniformed officer I wouldn't ignore the knock. So, I'd look first. Otherwise I'd most likely yell out for them to identify themselves after I dialed the police and just before I hit the send button.
I can't see where pretending it didn't happen would be a good thing.

 

[rvwandering]

We ignored one knock by the police in our very early days of fulltiming. We were parked in a department store lot in a suburban neighborhood so that we could get an early start on a vacation trip with our friends who lived nearby. We were woken from a sound sleep but managed to stay quiet until they left. We didn't sleep well after that though so now we try to stay in places where we know we shouldn't get a knock but it still happens occasionally. We always answer the knocks now.

With 25 years of fulltiming in a small class C, parking everywhere from store parking lots, driveways, streets by friend's houses and apartments, in the forest and deserts, we have had maybe ten or twenty knocks.

At Walmart, another big box store and a casino lot - knocks with interactions ranging from- it's okay to park here but move to that section, it's not okay to park here so leave, to I'm not telling you to leave but there's a good chance you'll get towed.

Store lots and other other blacktop such as rest areas but even out on public land - requests for stuff which ranged from money, water, food, tools, or some forgotten supply. We rarely give money but always help any other way that we can.

We've also had knocks from people who are curious about our motorhome because it's a little unusual. We met a couple who are now very good friends because they knocked on our door to invite us to their campfire.

So my opinion is don't ignore the knocks. We've never had a bad encounter and have given a bit of help when it was needed and have been helped out too.

 

[highdesertranger]

I rarely sleep in a city. I will go outside the city to sleep. the only time I got the knock was when I was sleeping at a Park-n-Ride lot right off I-5. I answered, told them I was travel and got tired. the officers said I couldn't sleep there and told me to go down the street to where all the big rigs were parked and to sleep there. I was polite they were polite and that was that. highdesertranger

 

[Van-Tramp]

I have ignored knocks the vast majority of the time. 100% of the time they stopped knocking and left me alone after. Never had anything bad happen after a knock. However, I also still leave after the knock. Unless you are blocking a driveway or fire-hydrant, the worst that can happen is the officer tag your car with a WARNING that it will be towed. They can not actually tow it before 24 hours anyway, so they leave and check back later is all. As Tony & Karen mentioned, I don't get any sleep after a knock anyway, so I just move once the knocker is gone. I really do not spend nights in places I shouldn't anyway, so the knocks aren't very common.

Remember, in many cities it is ILLEGAL to sleep in your vehicle. Answering the door will prove to the officer that you are in fact sleeping in your van - in violation of the law - and can be ticketed for that (google it, it happens regularly). Opening the door also allows him to look inside and that can end badly as well. I was just at a city park in CA where it was "illegal to have a can of spray paint in your possession on any park grounds" (signs posted everywhere). It was an arrest-able and jail-able offence (gotta love CA) if I had opened a door and an officer saw a can of paint in my van (which I have). In other locations (County just outside of Seattle area) it is a mandatory citation (the officer has no choice) if they see ANY signs that you sleep in your vehicle. Got a sleeping bag, stove, water jug in there? Done... you get yourself a ticket.

Here are two occasions I answered a knock (both times with gun in hand);
1) Walmart, at 4am, someone knocked - I did not open door - to notify me that I left my headlights on. That was nice, and I thanked him for it.
2) Someone was knocking during daylight hours at a rest area and pretended to be concerned for my safety when I peaked out the window (I did not open the door). He was clearly looking for a vacant RV/van that he could break a window and steal stuff. I called him on it and he took off.

I do agree that if you do answer the door to be polite and respectful. Even when I want to "exercise my rights" I have never felt the need to do so in a disrespectful way. The vast majority of police officers know your rights and their limits and respect them. The others, you really do not want to talk too so once they start on you, exercise your 5th and STFU to stay safe.

 

[lenny flank]

It depends on what they want. It could be anything from "is this car abandoned?" to "you can't sleep here" to "you have to move this car NOW".

The end result could be anything from "I'll check it again later" to "I'm calling the tow truck".

Most people who have cop troubles all the time, bring it on themselves. Most people who tell you to "don't answer the cops" are just projecting their political ideology onto the situation. It's kinda dumb.

Since I have nothing I need to hide, I don't make an issue of it. I've found that if you're not an ass to the cops, they won't be an ass to you.

 

[Rayd888]

I have ignored knocks the vast majority of the time. 100% of the time they stopped knocking and left me alone after. Never had anything bad happen after a knock...

Remember, in many cities it is ILLEGAL to sleep in your vehicle. Answering the door will prove to the officer that you are in fact sleeping in your van - in violation of the law - and can be ticketed for that (google it, it happens regularly). Opening the door also allows him to look inside and that can end badly as well. I was just at a city park in CA where it was "illegal to have a can of spray paint in your possession on any park grounds" (signs posted everywhere). It was an arrest-able and jail-able offence (gotta love CA) if I had opened a door and an officer saw a can of paint in my van (which I have). In other locations (County just outside of Seattle area) it is a mandatory citation (the officer has no choice) if they see ANY signs that you sleep in your vehicle. Got a sleeping bag, stove, water jug in there? Done... you get yourself a ticket.

Van-Tramp, these are very valid points.

The thing that made me think about the "Answering the knock" question is information like the video on the following link (Never talk to the police).

It's info straight from the horse's mouth - from a lawyer and from an ex-police officer who is now a lawyer.

It's pretty long, but very informative.

When at home (in a stocks and bricks house), I have Never answered the door to a police officer - or anyone that I do not know, for that matter. I never do anything illegal so I have no reason to open my door to any uninvited strangers or police officers. Why take the risk? 100% of the time, I've never heard back from these knocking strangers.

I know all situations are different and vandwelling is much "different-er" still... I also agree that being amicable is key to diffusing any stressful situation.

Peace.



Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

 

[RVTravel]

When the tow truck pulls up, you better let them know you are there..lol

 

[lenny flank]

^^^^^ Indeed, they can't tow the vehicle with you inside--but then, you've just convinced everyone that there IS nobody inside.....

BTW, once the tow truck shows up, you get to pay them whether they tow you or not.

 

[DLTooley]

I do not think they can tow off of public land without a citation. On private land I would just drive off. These days I never face the situation.

Unless the private lot is specifically posted as no sleeping I believe they must ask you to leave. I’d consider that knock such a request regardless. I believe an officer must id themselves and state cause. No sleeping laws are unconstitutional but that is not a discussion to have with the officer.

I have had two on public property and they were completely professional. I would however later have serious problems in those jurisdictions.

 

[rvwandering]

I deleted a series of posts that were back and forth bickering. Please stick to facts.

 

[Minivanmotoman]

I personally am disappointed with the arbitrary cut and deleted comments by the mod. Maybe Didn't see all of the comments but some that were deleted had valid points by both gentlemen. Maybe post a warning first before the delete button? Surgical delete  offending comments and leave the valid points up before a wide, blanket deletion of all?
Let people see the valid points on both sides and let us all make up our own minds. Differences are ok, state them and leave them at that. 

In my 2 experiences when parked, small town, local LEO checked and ran the plate. One in a parking lot, the other on the street. Did not get out right away but figured it was better to eventually. Necessary? Don't know. It is nerve wracking being in the van with the officer running around calling in your plate over the radio.

 Both in CA btw with a clean, plain white, recent minivan. And even if not answering the knock, routine is too verify. This may not be the case with an obvious RV but anything in stealth mode? The fact that you are hiding something makes LEO suspicious. We know that we are just sleeping and not a crime, but does anyone else agree with our bias?  Of course camping out in BLM or FS land avoids that but being in the boonies is a serious limitation. Maybe necessary in the future.

Now my vehicle might have been different, a minivan,  can't say. And of course, every situation, location, LEO or other encounter will be different.
But assessing each situation with the details helps to grasp a better understanding and tactic/strategy going forward. And I believe that is what the OP is looking to gain info on for the benefit of all here.

Each ones experience will be different and specific, but the more we share, better off we all are.
Facts, details and information, not ego,  opinion, conjecture or speculation. 
And any encounter with an LEO can escalate to a citation quickly for any number of various minute points. Search and seizure, revenue generation, citation issued as proof of effectiveness, etc... 

Those who have had no issue cannot make blanket statements that it isn't a problem because they have never seen it so it must not exist. 
With all of the shootings and issues going on today, plain white Vans and everyone is under LEO scrutiny.
Like it or not, agree or not.

 

[highdesertranger]

you want us to play editor now? lets look at this. say there are 100 new posts in a day and it takes a couple minutes to read each one. do you realize how much time that takes. then the mod adds there own posts = more time, get rid of spam = more time, welcome new guest = more time. now you want us to edit posts line by line. we all have lives too and can't be a babysitter all day long. sometimes I will delete certain lines in a post sometimes I won't and just delete the whole thing. when you go in line by line remember the post must still make sense when you are done. also the person(s) whose post was deleted has the option of reposting. there were about 6 posts deleted in the string you are talking about, for me it would have taken a lot of time to edit each one line by line. what I am saying is don't be disappointed with the MODs because they don't mollycoddle every single post. highdesertranger

 

[rvwandering]

I personally am disappointed with the arbitrary cut and deleted comments by the mod. Maybe Didn't see all of the comments but some that were deleted had valid points by both gentlemen. Maybe post a warning first before the delete button? Surgical delete  offending comments and leave the valid points up before a wide, blanket deletion of all?
Let people see the valid points on both sides and let us all make up our own minds. Differences are ok, state them and leave them at that.

   Thanks for the feedback. I don't feel comfortable editing comments from a member's post so that is why the posts were deleted in their entirety when the personal attacks escalated.  The members who had their posts deleted are welcome to repost their comments if they leave out the offending parts.

 

[GotSmart]

In the past few years I have had several knocks. The last one was a WM security guard. He started out by apologizing about knocking, and drew my attention to the noise in the background. That was a unsafe neighborhood after dark , and he was off duty in an hour. I was directed to another place to stay for the night. 

No problem and happy trails.

 

[Van-Tramp]

I guess it would be nice to know what the "offending parts" were then. I went out of my way to NOT post anything derogatory, insulting, or accusing in my posts in this thread that were deleted. I was simply asking lenny if he had any actual real world knowledge to his claims (he finally admitted he did not, which is very pertinent information to the readers of this thread) and rebutted his accusations and insults towards me.

Still, I don't mind the moderation. It's your house (not mine) and you can do as you wish with it.

 

[lenny flank]

I'm not a crybaby, so I won't cry.

 

[DLTooley]

I’ll take a mod knock over one from a leo anytime.  ?

 

[RVTravel]

lol at the mod knock.