Ignoring a knock

[Guest]

It's not illegal everywhere.  I've looked & can't find any laws saying that you can't sleep in your car in Canada (I know certain cities will crack down if you don't have a home address, but overall it's not a problem).

 

[dominique21]

I agree with Van-Tramp. If your in a legal parking spot, not trespassing, and the cop doesn't know your in there, he most likely will leave. One time during mid day in Santa Monica, I witnessed a cop knocking on a RV door that parked on the street. You could hear a dog barking inside, but nobody answered. After a few minutes the cop left. I stayed around to see if he would return with the humane society, because of the dog inside, but never did. In fact 5 hours later that same RV with the barking dog inside was still there. Now if the cop knows without a doubt your inside, he's still basically guessing. And unless he sees you park there, and never leave your vehicle he'll be more likely to take things a step further if you don't answer.

 

[MK7]

Van-Tramp: <span id="post_message_1279160768">I do not sleep in my van within city limits unless I am on private property with permission (Private home, RV park, Moose Lodge, etc).

<br><br>Ok, you just admitted to one certain illegal act in many jurisdiction. It's illegal to camp in your vehicle, even while on private home property, with the owner's permission. It should be the same with the parking lots of RV parks and Moose lodges too.<br><br></span>

 

[MK7]

<span id="post_message_1279162133">It's not illegal everywhere.&nbsp; I've looked &amp; can't find any laws saying that you can't sleep in your car in Canada (I know certain cities will crack down if you don't have a home address, but overall it's not a problem).

&nbsp;<br><br>Haha, very good Holmes.....no kidding it's not illegal everywhere as such a condition would merely require ONE opposing case to be proven false.&nbsp; I bet you can sleep on a tree in Brazil if you wanted to also, but obviously most of us are talking about cities and medium sized towns in the USA....which is why stealthing is such a big deal for Vandwellers. <br></span>

 

[twokniveskatie]

I think we are all on the same side here. Be nice.

 

[Van-Tramp]

MK7, sorry bud, but it is not illegal to camp in a vehicle on private property... such as an RV park or your own drive way. That is where it *is* legal. I don't know where you live, but it certainly would not be in America with those laws. Just like gun laws... I can carry a loaded gun, without a permit, on my own land without risk of violating the state or local laws (even in California!). It is *my land* and they have no jurisdiction over it. Their city ordinances are for the PUBLIC lands, not private property.<br><br>I pay to stay at any RV parks, I do not camp in their car-parking-lots (that would be trespassing). I pay to be a Moose member and many of the Lodges around the country have RV spaces and allow overnight parking in their cities and I have permission, as a Moose member, to stay in their member-only RV parks (I've been at my local Lodge for months now). I hope that clears up your misunderstandings about what I have said in previous posts.<br><br>But again, to stay on topic, even if I were breaking your cities ordinance, I would not answer the knock at my door and would CERTAINLY not admit to sleeping in my vehicle to that police officer who is knocking. I would not need to lie, I just would not answer ANY of his questions so as not to admit to being a criminal.

 

[mockturtle]

<span id="post_message_1279169486">Their city ordinances are for the PUBLIC lands, not private property.</span>

<br><br>Not so.&nbsp;&nbsp; A city ordinance can, and often does, extend to overnight parking on private lands, as well.&nbsp;

 

[Unchained]

Try drinking a few beers and then driving your car on your own property. If a cop sees you do that, at least here in California, you will get a DUI so fast it will make your head spin. Some laws and ordinances do extend to private property.

 

[user 423]

It is not illegal to camp in a vehicle on private property... such as your own drive way. That is where it *is* legal.

<br><br>I think that the zoning laws in most cities of any size would prohibit that if you wanted to do it for more than a few days. Just depends on where you are and who does or does not complain.

 

[MK7]

<span id="post_message_1279169486">MK7, sorry bud, but it is not illegal to camp in a vehicle on private property... such as an RV park or your own drive way. That is where it *is* legal.

<br><br>You don't know the law as much as you think you do. Not all cities, but most of those that have laws against living in cars, do not allow living in your car, even while parked on your own property. Obviously, this is rarely enforced and I'm not talking about the boonies neither, but medium size and larger cities and its suburbs. <br></span><span id="post_message_1279169486"><br></span><span id="post_message_1279169486"><span id="post_message_1279169486">

&nbsp;</span> Just like gun laws... I can carry a loaded gun, without a permit, on my own land without risk of violating the state or local laws (even in California!). It is *my land* and they have no jurisdiction over it. Their city ordinances are for the PUBLIC lands, not private property. </span><span id="post_message_1279169486"><span id="post_message_1279169486">

<br></span><br>This is a poor analogy, as gun laws are not the same.<br>&nbsp;</span><span id="post_message_1279169486"><br></span>

 

[cygvan]

where i live (and boondock) virtually every town has an ordinance about living in any vehice, rv or not, on private property with or without permission. in fact, some of these orwellian nazi elitist richie rich burbs go so far as to restrict even PARKING an rv on your driveway. or even commercial vehicles like some plumbers would do at their home.<br><br>however, it will take a town or police officer much more than simply telling you to split or be arrested if your doing this on private property. with permission. even if neighbors complain. they will have to go through eviction proceedings and you do have some rights if you claim it as your residence. but eventually you will have to go.<br><br>however, do it on the street or commercial property like burger king and its handcuffs if you dont leave.<br><br>walmart is famous for allowing overnighters. but if the town has an ordinance against it, walmart is pretty keen on telling folks that they cant stay. in that scenario, dont resist an officer telling you to leave.&nbsp; if a walmart is near a paid commercial campground, you can bet that the campground owners lobbied for an ordinance for obvious reasons.<br><br>here in north jersey, this entire issue is really important to van dwellers simply because there is no BLM land, or giant state/national parks that have so many ways to camp overnight compared to the west. there arent even alot of commerical campgrounds. there are a few tate parks of course but highly restrictive and expensive and good luck getting a reservation. a byproduct of our state being so heavily populated (seemingly with plenty of aholes that ruin it). its simply different here. and i cant wait to leave.

 

[wrcsixeight]

The supreme arrogance of authority in NJ was the main reason I left

 

[cygvan]

tell me about it. its my home but ive seen it change so much since i was a kid its disheartening.&nbsp; i really kick myself for being oblivious to these things for so longs and trying to keep up. screw that.<br><br>the idea of open space here is frowned upon it seems. pave it, develop it and collect the rateables so the municifools can retire rich and send their kids to college.<br><br>$12,000 a year in property taxes. not even for a medium house on a 1/10th of an acre.<br><br>criminal.

 

[Van-Tramp]

MK7, so you are saying that camping at an RV Park (private property) within city limits it is illegal to sleep in an RV in your city? And if you have a trailer parked on your farm land, an officer could enter your land (without consent) and harass you in your trailer? What *may be* illegal in your town is NOT illegal in mine. So please, do not call me a criminal based on what you believe your town ordinance is since. If your city does in fact have such laws, you guys seriously need to vote better in the next elections. You (as citizens of your city) clearly gave up your rights by voting for the wrong politicians. <br><br>And hey... if all else fails, get out of the city limits and you are no longer breaking the law/ordinance... so what's the problem?

 

[Van-Tramp]

<span id="post_message_1279169930">Try drinking a few beers and then driving your car on your own property. If a cop sees you do that, at least here in California, you will get a DUI so fast it will make your head spin. Some laws and ordinances do extend to private property.</span>

<br><br>You do not need a state driver's license to drive on your own private property. Your car does not need to meet emissions requires to drive it on your own private property. Your vehicle does not need to be registered to drive on your own private property. The police have no authority to enforce traffic laws on your own private property. <br><br>I do see that in some cases it may very well be legal to drink and drive on your own land. That land must not be accessible by the public (completely fenced in). Would this apply to sleeping in a vehicle as well? <br><br><br>

 

[Unchained]

Not sure on that. I know about the DUI on private property because I live in BFE and can't get cell reception inside my tin can (5th wheel), so I often sit in my car while talking on the phone. Sometimes I also have a beer or two whist gabbing. I was warned by someone who does not know the layout of the farm I live on that if a cop saw me 'sitting under the influence' in the car, esp with the engine running to power the A/C, I could get busted for a DUI. I checked, and they were right. I even found a case where a farmer no where near the road was busted for a DUI while 'plowing under the influence' on his tractor. Apparently, the cop was watching through binoculars from the road.

 

[David]

Maybe I just never had any dealings with LA cops, but I've always found just being honest and talking to them worked best.

I would never give an OK to search my vehicle but I've also never been arrested for anything. I find that's the most helpful thing, when cops run my name, they don't find a five page rap sheet and typically I've always been let go with a warning for all but speeding tickets.

I will say I've only had the knock one time so far and that was my fault for a bad choice on where I tried to stay.


Keep in mind, most places it's illegal to sleep in your car via city ordinances. Meaning they might have already caught you breaking the law, so no use to agitate things if you don't need to. Just try to be both honest and smart in your answers.

A lot of cops are a holes but just watch a few episodes of cops to see what they have to deal with. In my experience most cops react well if you are polite and don't try to mislead them.

 

[MK7]

<span id="post_message_1279173509">MK7, so you are saying that camping at an RV Park (private property) within city limits it is illegal to sleep in an RV in your city? </span><span id="post_message_1279173509"><span id="post_message_1279173509">

</span><br><br>Well you need to re-read what I said because you got it wrong. I said that, IN GENERAL, you cannot park in the parking lot of an RV park (even with permission) and sleep there. Sleeping in the actual RV designated lot, obviously, is fine as those are zoned and insured for residency....while the parking spaces out front are not. The RV park can get sued for allowing you to sleep there should your van catches on fire or if a drunk driver at night collides right into you, etc.<br><br></span><span id="post_message_1279173509"><span id="post_message_1279173509"><span id="post_message_1279173509">

</span></span>And if you have a trailer parked on your farm land, an officer could enter your land (without consent) and harass you in your trailer? What *may be* illegal in your town is NOT illegal in mine. So please, do not call me a criminal based on what you believe your town ordinance is since. If your city does in fact have such laws, you guys seriously need to vote better in the next elections. You (as citizens of your city) clearly gave up your rights by voting for the wrong politicians. </span><span id="post_message_1279173509"><span id="post_message_1279173509"><span id="post_message_1279173509">

<br><br>Spare me the melodrama and just re-read what I said. I clearly stated that if you live in the boonies, it's probably ok and/or rarely enforced even if it's illegal. I also clearly stated that this is the case in many places....which obviously means, NOT ALL...&nbsp; I obviously don't know where you live, so yeah, if your residence is in Sticksville somewhere, sure...no cop's going to bother you even if it is illegal.<br></span></span><br>Here's a case where a guy is living out of an RV on his own rural farmland is being evicted.<br><br><br><br>So what is your zipcode and we can figure this out if you know what you're talking about. You know, your real zipcode and not one that you're googling to find out the answer ahead of time.<br><br></span><span id="post_message_1279173509"><span id="post_message_1279173509"> </span><span id="post_message_1279173509"><span id="post_message_1279173509"><span id="post_message_1279173509">

</span></span></span>And hey... if all else fails, get out of the city limits and you are no longer breaking the law/ordinance... so what's the problem?

<br><br>Welcome to the internet. This is a discussion forum, where people discuss. If your answer to every argument that you're losing is this, then why have a forum to begin with?<br></span>

 

[MK7]

<span id="post_message_1279173602"><br>

You do not need a state driver's license to drive on your own private property. Your car does not need to meet emissions requires to drive it on your own private property. Your vehicle does not need to be registered to drive on your own private property. The police have no authority to enforce traffic laws on your own private property.

<br>&nbsp;<br>Obviously, it depends on where he lives. <br><br>Notice how you got all wound up in the other post when you thought that I broad brushed my opposing comments to include your place of residence in Sticksville (when I didn't), yet here you are trying to tell this guy that he's wrong about what the law is in his zipcode based on what you think the law is in your hometown. See the hypocrisy? <br><br>Take the Baltimore, MD suburbs (where houses are $200k to $1 million+. It is ILLEGAL to own a vehicle that's not registered, tagged and insured. Therefore, it must me in emission compliant every 2 years. So owning an unregistered car w/o plates &amp; insurance and keeping it inside an enclosed garage of your home is still ILLEGAL. <br><br></span>

 

[Unchained]

Guy? <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">