Is stealth a big deal in a city like Los Angeles?

[citytravelfotos]

I plan to stealth park in the city of Los Angeles, a city where people tend to be busy and supposedly not care much if at all about what other people do. &nbsp;From my experience, its not hard finding side areas in residential single family house neighborhoods where you are parking basically beside a side or backyard fence. &nbsp;There are also many clusters of apartment buildings (though those usually are almost impossible to find parking at night.) &nbsp;There are also many boulevards with streetside retail (much like a main street type downtown but wider) which has parallel parking both on the boulevard and on the side streets lining the retail buildings (most of the parking is coin operated pay parking, but there are usually no nighttime enforcements.) &nbsp;There's also a secret place where I know a friend that vandwells that parks and has parked for a long time. &nbsp;In addition, I'm very outdoors and a night owl so I plan to only worry about parking between maybe 1 am and 7 am.<br><br>Given all this information, do you think it would it be not a problem to stealth park in Los Angeles with a cargo van or an extended van with a high top (like those wheelchair vans?) &nbsp;I'm wondering if stealth is not anywhere as big of a deal in the city of Los Angeles compared to say the outer suburbs or a small city. &nbsp;I also plan to visit other cities but I'd prefer staying in the urban areas (like in San Francisco) and open minded communities, and if parking is a problem when traveling I just stay in a Walmart or Flying J.

 

[RAILROADGREEN]

hey there citytravelfotos, there are about 250,000 people living on the streets from san francisco to san diego in all kinds of rig's .have a good time. fellow traveler gary

 

[citytravelfotos]

^ I bring up those two particular vehicles because for cargo vans, there's the stereotype of them being used for shady uses including kidnappers, and for extended vans with high tops, they just stick out quite a bit from their surroundings, and thus not blend in compared to vans with regular tops.

 

[wrcsixeight]

Don't count on Wal-mart being an overnight option in S. California.<br><br>I don't really know about DT Los Angeles, but since the whole area is a giant suburb &nbsp;in a 50 mile radius, with many different local jurisdictions and income levels your reception will likely vary widely within Hell-A.<br><br><br>

 

[akrvbob]

I've never done it, but I know several people stealth parking in the greater LA area and they all say it is surprisingly easy. One person is in a car, another is in a high-top conversion van, another in a Chinook Class B. Choosing a vehicle is inportant, but more inportant is being smart and following the general rules of stealth parking.<br>Bob

 

[citytravelfotos]

I'm asking in part in order to have these vehicles as an option:<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.solidautonet.com/1343/9268311/3.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>Or even ones like this:<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://images.craigslist.org/3K73I63N85L95E95Hccc2cf3243eafb401780.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>

 

[caseyc]

If you're parking late night and move early the next morning, you can pretty much park most anywhere and you won't be noticed or bothered.&nbsp; However, if you plan on parking in the same spot for more than a day, then you have to be more careful.&nbsp; Some neighborhoods have a 72 hour law whereby you must move your vehicle at least&nbsp;1/10th of a mile to another location, otherwise you risk&nbsp;getting a warning notice for a ticket and towing if parked in same spot for more than 72 hours.&nbsp; I've noticed that nosy neighbors are more inclined to call traffic control officers for oversized vehicles (ie: RVs, large&nbsp;trucks) versus regular sized cars if the vehicle is parked for an extended period of time.&nbsp; But again, if you frequently move your vehicle to different parking spots, this should avoid most problems.&nbsp; I've noticed neighbors don't like it when a vehicle stays parked in the same spot for too long, especially for oversized vehicles.

 

[citytravelfotos]

^ I believe the 72 hour rule is in all of California. &nbsp;<br><br>"Under California Vehicle Code 22651(k), a police officer has the legal right to remove any vehicle that has been parked on a highway for more than 72 consecutive hours. Cars parked on the street for more than 72 hours also will be considered abandoned under California law."<span style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br><br>Read more:&nbsp;<a style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: #003399; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_6858793_california-law-72-hour-parking.html#ixzz2IIXLkGFu" rel="nofollow">California Law on 72 Hour Parking | eHow.com</a>&nbsp;<a style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: #003399; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_6858793_california-law-72-hour-parking.html#ixzz2IIXLkGFu" rel="nofollow">http://www.ehow.com/facts_6858793_california-law-72-hour-parking.html#ixzz2IIXLkGFu<br><br><br></a>Also from that article:<br><br>"</span>In San Francisco, you must move your vehicle at least 1/10 of a mile during any 72-hour period or it will be considered abandoned."<br><br><br><br><span style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">And<br><br>"The purpose of the 72 hour parking law in California is to prohibit vehicle owners from abandoning their car on either a public or private highway or road. All vehicle owners who violate this law will have their car towed and impounded at their own expense."<br><br><br><span style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">BTW, according to a friend of mine, he's seen vehicles basically abandoned on the street, and it took a lot longer than 3 days for the police to know about it and eventually tow it.</span></span>

 

[caseyc]

This is usually what happens:&nbsp; One day there will be a bright yellow notice stuck on your windshield&nbsp;that says something like "Warning, you are in violation...You must move your vehicle by XX/XX/XXXX date, otherwise you will&nbsp;be ticketed and/or towed...".&nbsp; I recently saw a camper&nbsp;van get this notice for parking in same spot too long, and then some time later also got the "Denver boot", which is&nbsp;a lock placed on one of your wheels.&nbsp; I&nbsp;saw on the news that in my area they are cracking down on RVs parked for extended periods of time, especially&nbsp;in certain city streets known for&nbsp;excessive RV parking.&nbsp; It's a shame that it takes a few bad examples to ruin it for the rest of us.&nbsp; The bottom line is that it's important to move/re-park your vehicle frequently, and to not park in certain areas that some home owners would be inclined to want to report your vehicle.

 

[uncagingmyspirit]

I'm in Los Angeles<br><br>#1 DO NOT PARK IN VENICE - unless you absolutely have to. If you do, stay away from the first 6 streets from the beach. I use to do activist volunteer work to help homeless, unhoused &amp; auto people. Both the police and residents are ugly and treat people badly. I have heard some truly&nbsp;awful&nbsp;callous things happening to to people done by police, residents &amp; city workers.&nbsp;<br><br>DT LA - I wouldn't&nbsp;recommend&nbsp;it&nbsp;<br>Mar Vista - maybe<br>Marina del rey - chancy<br>Long Beach - good &amp; bad places<br>Mid-City areas - doable but can get a little dangerous.&nbsp;<br>Valley - different areas different levels of ok.<br>Hollywood / west Hollywood - doable but be careful.&nbsp;<br><br>Van, RV, Camper living in LA has turned ugly. Since you have a nice looking van it will be a lot easier but be careful. Park in areas where it's not too soccor mom like. Stay away from condos and apartments turned condos - the residents there tend to be really bad and will call the cops on you. Parking lots - varies. I recommend a gym membership such as 24hr fitness where you don't pay for parking.&nbsp;<br><br><br>

 

[Cubey]

What about my van (class B motorhome)? Take note that the missing/damaged compartment doors have been fixed. I just don't have good up-to-date photos. These were taken before I bought it.<br><br>I wouldn't leave it parked in a single place for days... and I'd try to pick safe'ish areas to overnight at. I'd also try to get to sleep as early as possible after dark so I can be up at the crack of dawn to move it if I need to.<br><br>My biggest problem might be finding a place to dump the waste if I were to use the plumbing in it.<br><br>

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[Unchained]

What part of LA are you thinking of, Cubey? You would probably be best off outside the city proper, if possible. It's very true that LA to SD is basically one giant 'burb along the coast.

 

[Cubey]

I don't know. I've never been there aside from the bus and train stations while passing through.<br><br>I've done a bit of reading and know that East and South LA is bad news for sure. For the dough being saved not being in high priced RV parks in the area, I don't mind blowing a few gallons of gas a day to keep on the move a bit. My out of state plate will stand out some for sure as being a tourist but unless I try to park in some rich area, I doubt I'd be too bad off. I get so many compliments on my rig and some people don't realize just how old it really is.<br><br>I figure I'll want to bum around for a few weeks to a month early next year.<br><br>I'm not stealthy at all though. It's obviously a motorhome.

 

[Unchained]

I'd say you will be best off outside the city itself and in a Wally World parking lot, if possible. Long Beach is pretty close to the city, and may be more hospitable. If you can give me an idea of things you want to do and see (feel free to PM), I might be able to help you find the safer places close to where you want to stay. It's a HUGE sprawl out here!<br><br>BTW, right there with you on lack of stealth. My '73 tt is as stealthy as a small elephant! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img" title="Big Grin - ">

 

[Cubey]

Yeah, Long Beach might be a good idea. Sadly, those of use with actual RVs can't use the $30/mo overnight beach parking.<br><br>"<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">RV parking, unattached trailers, oversized vehicles, and overnight camping are prohibited in all beach lots."<br></span><br> Technically it says no 'overnight camping' but in a mini-van or conversion van, you could probably get away with it if you're inconspicuous.<br><br>I might have to limit my stay to a few days unless I can find a decent priced RV park (yeah right!) or run the risk of police knocks. Even the Angeles national forest limits you to 14 days at a time and 30 days total a year, which would be fine for me, but not for some. But at least it's a fraction of the cost, $14/night. It would be a viable option for short term use such as I want. just a bit remote and a long drive. (60+ miles - hour and a half)<br><br>They do offer dispersed camping though as well in the forest. However, I put highway tires on it. Not on/off or off road tires.

 

[Unchained]

Honestly, if you are coming all the way to Cali you might want to limit LA to a week (you will be smogged out by then), them bum your way north or south- I vote north. This is a big, beautiful state and the mountains are not to be missed. I also think San Francisco is much more fun than LA, but that's me <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img" title="Big Grin - ">

 

[Cubey]

I've been to Monterey and San Francisco. I spent a few months homeless in Santa Cruz in 1999. At the time, you could be homeless there a lot better than now from what I've read. Now it's a lot worse... but that goes for much of the country in general I think.<br><br>At the time, my mom and I were living out of her 91 Corolla with a cat. She put our junk in a self storage unit. First we stayed in state park campgrounds until the limit was reached. Then we stayed at the KOA until they wouldn't let us anymore too. Then we went back to town and parked in a public parking lot. She was moving it daily, until it broke down the parking lot. She continues to pay the parking fee.<br><br>Eventually they posted a warning about it being there too long and was going to be towed. She took the notice to the code enforcement and pleaded with them. They wrote out a long letter for her to post in the rear window, telling the cops not to ticket or tow it, so long as she continued to pay the parking fee.<br><br>Finally she had a church help her to get it towed to a garage and have a new starter put in it. By that time, I had an ulcer from the stress of it all. I had no choice in the situation and no way out. I was barely 18, couldn't work, had no car and couldn't drive if I had one. After getting the car fixed, we went to Sacramento and lived there for about 5 years.<br><br>Anyhow... for Santa Cruz, I can use a state parks if possible nearby for pretty cheap (1/2 price disabled rate) which will get me by for a week or two. I might have to leave on weekends due to reservations being full on weekends months ahead. In that case, I might get by parking overnight near the homeless shelter. Unless it has moved since 1999, it was on a circle street where it had ample street parking on both sides as I recall. There, of all places, I doubt the cops would hassle anyone parked overnight to sleep. <br><br>San Francisco has a lack of parking somewhat, especially for night time I bet. I will be going up that way but I dunno where I can park overnight up that way. Maybe a bit further south like Half Moon Bay or around that area.<br><br>I'm probably not going to have my trailer and scooter with me. They can stay stored out here in Arkansas at my mom's house for collection later when I'm ready to settle down in the Pacific Northwest in an RV park full time. I'll stop by for a visit for a couple weeks and take it with me when I leave.<br><br>With the trailer, it's too much parking headaches when outside of RV parks for how I want to travel and live. It costs a fair amount more gas to tow as it's a very heavy trailer. Plus it stands out worse than just my van, especially in places where it's questionable for me to be parked overnight.

 

[Cubey]

Hmm, it seems a lot has changed in 14 years there. (Damn, it's been THAT LONG?! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img" title="Eek - ">). The old homeless services center appears to be a residential house now, if I'm looking at the right place on Google Street View. <br><br>There is a newer, fancier place over elsewhere, where it appears overnight, on street parking is completely out of the question.<br><br>I won't use any homeless center resources unless I have to for some reason. There's too many people in real need. I wouldn't feel right about taking from those people.<br><br> But if they can help me out with suggestions for places to park overnight, it would help. I'll just have to present myself as not being a full time RVer, and instead as being homeless and on disability living in my motorhome. Not hard to do since it's technically true that I'm "homeless" by society's standards and it's a fact I am on SSDI. Plus I have a motorhome that is 35 years that I am living out of. It'll be tagged and registered out of state but that's not so unusual I don't think. Back in 99, my mom's car was too when we were in Santa Cruz for a few months.<br><br>Oh and the place I was thinking of wasn't a shelter, it was a daytime services center only I think. I know they had mail box services for the homeless for sure.. not sure what else.

 

[peacetara]

In my experience:

In LA proper, it will be hard, but I'm sure you can find more industrial areas where nobody cares if a car stays parked for a month.

In SCZ (Santa Cruz), it's doable, but you have to stay on the move, and hide from the police, they don't have much sense of humor anymore, they like giving tickets.

Watsonville (just to the south east), the police might say hello, but I've never heard about tickets.

Over the hill in the Bay Area, you can find lots of places where old ratty RV's are parked for weeks on the street.

Wish you lots of successes!

With love,
Tara

 

[Cubey]

Yes, I know of Watsonville. I suspect the cops don't care as much there since it's not a tourist town. It's more agricultural due to all the farmland around it. I do know the cops do patrol there a lot though.. or did 14 years ago. Or maybe my mom just had back luck (sort of) once. <br><br>She made a left turn down a one way street the wrong way and a cop saw it. He didn't ticket her since she didn't cause an accident and I told her she was turning where she shouldn't and she stopped after the completed turn or some such. The cop stopped and checked her license, insurance and registration. Although, he did tell her she couldn't have the back seat of the car so filled so she couldn't see out the rear window. That's when she went and got a self storage unit to empty out the back seat. We had an out of state plate so it was believable she didn't know it was a one way street and she didn't see the no left turn sign, which was the truth.<br><br>Even if I run up a $350 gasoline bill a month to keep on the move around there, it's still a fraction of what a month of RV park would cost in the area. If I can use the state parks for dumping (for a fee) without staying in the campground (day use only maybe) then I can get by being fully self contained. That or go stay in the campground once a week to dump and refill. That would give me up to 30 weeks a year since 30 days is the limit per year for each campground, I think. Since there's 2 close by, that would actually cover me for a year since there's 52 weeks. Not that I want to stay there that long, but it's an idea for those in an RV who do want to stay around that long. In my case I could go twice a week if I find that I need to dump my tanks every few days.