Talked to a city cop

[vonu]

I was sitting in the Walmart parking lot, where I usually do in Gillette (Wyoming), with the side door open letting the heat out, when I heard a car pull up behind me. &nbsp;A glance out the rooftop hatch corroborated that it was a local cop checking me out. &nbsp;After he'd had time to call my license plate in, he came flashing his flashlight, looking around. &nbsp;He asked if the van was mine and my name, and said that he was just checking to make sure everything was OK, which I assured him it was. &nbsp;After asking how long I'd been there, and receiving my long term answer of a couple of weeks, he left without a word about the advisability or legality of continuing to park there.<div>This Walmart Supercenter has a large parking lot and usually has an assortment of overnight parkers ranging from carsleepers to tractor-trailers, with plenty of RVs of all descriptions. &nbsp;The street side of the lot looks like a small used car lot. &nbsp;Since I patronize the store on a regular basis and park in a different space each night, I doubt I'll ever be contacted again, at least by this particular officer, since I'm a local, my CDL, vehicle registration, and insurance sharing my local mail drop address.</div>

 

[Butternut]

<font size="3"><font face="Georgia">I have no problem with cops, but my heart skips when I see one circling my car. I think the only reason they haven't asked me to leave my current location is that fancy RV's also park there at night. They couldn't ask me to leave without asking them all to go. </font></font><br>

 

[vonu]

<div><br></div><div>It's largely up to the owner of the property. &nbsp;If it's public property, the cops can do pretty much whatever they want. &nbsp;The only Walmarts that one can't spend a night at are the ones where it's prohibited by local law, and those are usually pushed through by people who own RV parks, as they were in Yuma, AZ. &nbsp;A Jackson (WY) cop used my presence on Albertson's lot to cite me for the violation of a law that didn't apply, at a time when there were several RVs there as well. &nbsp;I moved out to the county, where it was much better, anyway. &nbsp;A new hire at the sheriff's department was made fun of by his fellow officers after he was the last one to roust me, something I pointed out when he had to have backup to do so. &nbsp;After that, my next contact with LEOs was the secret service, which rousted me because I was parked on the route his royal highness Cheney was taking from the airport to the golf course.</div>

 

[Butternut]

<br><br><font size="3"><font face="Georgia">The last cop to roust me called for backup. I think they felt stupid when a blond chic rolled out of the car, their whole attitude changed from "you're a delinquent" to "girl's shouldn't be doing this". I know it's horrible and karma will catch me at some point, but for the most part a girl just has to bob her head and act dumb when rousted. As long as we look respectable(ish) we're usually ok. I can't imagine being a guy, I've heard horror stories.&nbsp; </font></font><br>

 

[lampliter]

Try this on---I was busted, taken to jail and strip searched---all over a date on a piece of paper. There were 2 of them--- I was only walking down the street across from where I&nbsp; was working at the time.--- on the back of the drivers seat was a big sign that said " FEAR ME".Two weeks later a bunch of them were caught using the cop chopper to fly to Texas and gamble. I wonder what happened to them? This was in Florida. This is a true story---believe it or not.<br>

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp; LE have told me vans can arouse their instincts in a parking lot because<br>it is the vehicle of choice for abductors, car burglars etc.<br>

 

[sl1966]

From what I've heard, that perception has changed a lot over the last few years. So many have turned to living in their vehicles after losing their homes. With nowhere to go they all live where they can. This came from a coworkers bro in law who is law enforcement where I live.&nbsp;<div><br></div>

 

[Ricekila]

<P>Good point <IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" align=absMiddle border=0></P>

 

[Trout]

<p>Our local walmart in Casper WY has its guests arrive around 8pm every night.&nbsp; Normally they are all gone early in the morning.&nbsp; No one is really hiding the fact they are camping either.&nbsp; Looks like a spot I might be using in the near future.</p>

 

[Cubey]

You have to try to look at it from their point of view. Every person they approach could be potentially ready to kill them for all they know, so they are automatically on the offensive before you even say hello.<br><br>This is why I think I prefer my stealthless class b van. It shows I have nothing to hide about me being there.<br>

 

[tinythetrucker]

<p>for all my van camping friends i use a yellow light {not even wired up} and a wide load sign, Trucking escorts are everywere and most van camp its a great line to use when needed. </p>