Reddit Article - streetdockers using Homestead Act to challenge parking law

[AreWeLostYet]

[font=IBMPlexSans, sans-serif]Reddit Article - streetdockers using Homestead Act to challenge parking law:[/font]

[font=IBMPlexSans, sans-serif]Police unable to enforce parking and sidewalk violations due to homestead act.[/font]

[size=large][font=IBMPlexSans, sans-serif]

 

[lenny flank]

> "I just called the police due to there being cars on Seaview Ave NW that have not been moved in months. The parking restrictions on this road are no parking from 2AM to 5AM. There are about 5 campers and 10 cars on this stretch of road that have not been moved an inch in 2 months time."

A terribly stupid idea. And they're surprised people call the cops on them .....?

 

[AreWeLostYet]

If you're a boondocker, you should be concerned what all these illegal street parkers are going to do when they're finally given the boot and head for the boonies you're docking in.

If the federal land managing agencies start closing gates things will really start getting "interesting" boondockers and streetparkers will drive their RVs, Vans etc. to every USFS, BLM, ACE and FWS office, park where their vehicle will be most of an obstacle, then disable the vehicle necessitating towing them all away. It would take weeks and cost millions to relocate, store and legally process the vehicles.

 

[lenny flank]

I'm not a boondocker.

And parking in front of someone's house for two months without moving, is still a terribly stupid idea.

 

[AreWeLostYet]

Most of the street parking in Seattle is not in front of residences. It is probably because all the parking that is not in front of residences in Seattle is already occupied that RVs and vans are parking in front of residences.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

In Minnesota in order to occupy a dwelling as your primary residence (which you must do to homestead) you need a Certificate of Occupancy.  In order to get a COO the dwelling needs to be inspected and meet code.  Housing code in Minnesota includes being hooked up to sewer (anywhere) and water (in incorporated cities) and have an address.  If a dwelling fails to meet code you will be issued a citation giving you a specified time to bring the dwelling up to code or vacate.  At the end of the time you will need to meet code or be evicted and the structure condemned.  Children cannot reside in a home without a COO.  I would think Washington State would have similar laws.

What I find troubling is the level of anger in the comments.  Sooner or later someone is going to get hurt, and it is usually the most vulnerable.

 

[cyndi]

Folks, this is just a friendly reminder that many of us have limited bandwidth so we ask that you carefully trim any quotes you include to the bare minimum.  When you are reading on a phone, and you have to read the same post twice to get a new comment, it can be frustrating--especially if there are pictures!

There's absolutely no need to quote the post above your post, to quotrthe original post or to quote yourself

Be kind and trim!!

 

[wayne49]

Very likely that those people work at jobs in Seattle that do not pay enough to make rent. Some of those jobs could be customer service jobs that serve the neighborhood where they are parking.

Did not click on the click. I doubt that a homestead act would apply to public spaces such as sidewalks and streets.

Minnesota's act sounds like sure come on in and make yourself known to the authorities to be squatting on someone's property. An individual could find themselves worn down trying to get that COO.

 

[Weight]

What homestead act? The Home Stead Act was discontinued. The last claim was in Alaska in 1988.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Minnesota's act sounds like sure come on in and make yourself known to the authorities to be squatting on someone's property. An individual could find themselves worn down trying to get that COO.

Certificate of Occupancy is part of the International Uniform Building Code that is law in all 1st world countries.  State and local building codes are expansions of this.  From IUBC:

Certificate of Occupancy
Sec. 307. (a) Use and Occupancy. No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the building official has issued a Certificate of Occupancy therefor as provided herein.

What homestead act? The Home Stead Act was discontinued. The last claim was in Alaska in 1988.

Confusion of terms.  Homestead Laws (state specific) are intended to protect ones primary residence from some legal claims.  
From:      https://statelaws.findlaw.com/washington-law/washington-homestead-laws.html

[font=Roboto,]"Today, each state has its own homestead laws, which can protect a certain portion of the property owned by the head of a household from being confiscated and sold to satisfy debts."[/font]

 

[John61CT]

All irrelevant.

The whole point is,

enforcement of laws and regulations should not push a poor person,

who can't afford to live in a legal S&B dwelling,

into becoming homeless.

A very admirable goal.

The systemic cause of the big-picture root cause,

namely a crisis in housing policy in **all** US urban areas with hot job and real estate markets

needs fixing, urgently.

But that is a separate issue.

 

[AreWeLostYet]

What homestead act? The Home Stead Act was discontinued. The last claim was in Alaska in 1988.

Probably filed by one Bob Wells.