Tips on finding the laws for your city/state

[rabiesandpeewee]

Hi guys <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">THANK YOU for all your help so far. I haven't gotten to respond to everyone...very busy with trying to finish up the van before my background check goes through, and I begin working in another city (also in school full time)!<br><br>I managed to find a short blurb on a lawyer's website about trespassing laws in my state (they seem very lenient, yay!), but I couldn't find anything for my city. I'm wondering how to find the laws about sleeping in one's vehicle.<br><br>So...I'm going to be difficult here, because I don't want to share my location (sorry!) <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> Any tips on "googling" the laws, or other search engines to try? Can you find the laws on the state and city websites?<br><br>Just to tag on another question...what happens to pets if you get arrested? Animal shelter? Do they put them up for adoption right away?<br><br>Thanks again. I hope everyone's having a relaxing and warm night <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[ShesJustJodi]

I don't know what they do with pets, but it should be fairly easy to google laws. I spend a lot of time every day googling laws and researching all kinds of government stuff. I like to know what they are planning to do to us next. ;-) google the town name with the state and exactly what you want: ie "Orlando, FL trespassing laws". Or "legal to live in car in Orlando, FL". Sometimes if you can't find the actual website for the gov you can find someone talking about it with a link.

 

[blars]

Technomadia had an ebook called "state lines" that covered various state laws, but they decided it wasn't worth maintaining.&nbsp; I think they may still have the iphone application version.

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

Thanks everybody! I have tried googling the city and state, and what I'm looking for "sleeping in car," "sleeping in vehicle," etc. No dice. I'll keep trying, though. I've seen some suggest that you pose as someone who's just passing through, and just ask the Police Department what the laws are. I may try that, but it's kind of scary.<br><br>Renting a parking space is something I'm actively pursuing. It certainly would be a gigantic relief. But, I would like to stealth at some point, as well, if I can figure out that I definitely won't get a misdemeanor without being really dumb. It looks like I won't get one for trespassing (without being dumb...see next paragraph), so I'm trying to figure out if I can get one for sleeping in the van on public property.<br><br>Oh...about my first "night" (I called it that, but I was going to sleep in my friend's driveway, so I haven't really had my first night, yet). They said I was trespassing, but in my state (I just found out) you can only be charged with trespassing, if you've been asked to leave, and didn't leave. The police said I was trespassing, but there were no signs, and they hadn't asked me to leave yet. So...THEY were wrong. Not that I would have responded to them with such defiance, had I known this at the time, but I certainly would have made clear that I knew the law, and was more than willing to move on.<br><br>It's good to know the law!<br><br>Bah, there's an ap for EVERYTHING. I don't want one of those dadgammit newfangled pieces of machinery...why can't we just communicate with strings and cups...or smoke signals? Just kidding...but I'm not crazy about smart phones. Too much money!<br><br>Take care, guys <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Seraphim]

Most local laws are copied from the state's Revised Code, with additions that mostly refer to zoning or other differences. Sleeping an a van is probably a violation of the city's zoning laws. Check there.<br><br>Trspassing is simple: if it's not yours, don't go on it without permission.&nbsp; If it's after hours at a business location, even one open to the public,&nbsp;it's trespassing.&nbsp; If it's a business open to the public, during working hours, and you're not there for the purposes of transacting business, it's also trespassing; though rarely cited for.&nbsp; Most likely you'll just be told to leave.&nbsp; Private property does not have to have sign saying 'No Trespassing'.&nbsp; If you haven't prior permisson, you're trespassing.

 

[ccbreder]

Most towns adapt a standard code, some National Building Code. There are two in use, and I'm sorry I don't remember the exact names. Generally what Seraphim said. Rest assured it is illegal to live in a vehicle unless it is in a "permitted place". The police can and will check your papers, ask you to leave, untill the second or third time, then you may have trouble. Pets are sent to a shelter, there are many differant qualities of shelters.

 

[Seraphim]

Generally you'll just be issued a summons into court on a non-violent charge, unless you are unable to prove your identity. Pets not a problem. Even if arrested, they will release you in a short time, once they have a photograph for future identification purposes. The pet can wait in the vehicle, providing its not hazardous conditions.

Trust me - police get tired of repeating the same information over and over ad nauseum. It is not enjoyable, especially in an era of on line information. People are expected to know the laws of the community in which they reside.

 

[ccbreder]

If you don't have an address, and you get citation, expect to pay bail to the amount of potential fine. That is the extreme position and mostly doesn't go that far. It has happened to me two times after ten years when on the road. the alternitive was a night in lock up with a judge in the morning. lock up is not jail, it is a locked cell in a police station. jail is were the judge can send you the next morning. It always pays to be polite and honest with the police.

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

Most local laws are copied from the state's Revised Code, with additions that mostly refer to zoning or other differences. Sleeping an a van is probably a violation of the city's zoning laws. Check there.

<br>COOL...I did! I found stuff!<br>Also, the law in my state is that you need to be asked to leave, if there is no sign. Possibly, this is more in theory than in practice...but I still think I can avoid trespassing, if I'm not being dumb.<br><br>

Rest assured it is illegal to live in a vehicle unless it is in a "permitted place".

<br>Street parking in a commercial area is still illegal? I wouldn't be shocked at this, but I can't find the law.<br><br>

If you don't have an address, and you get citation, expect to pay bail to the amount of potential fine. That is the extreme position and mostly doesn't go that far. It has happened to me two times after ten years when on the road. the alternitive was a night in lock up with a judge in the morning. lock up is not jail, it is a locked cell in a police station. jail is were the judge can send you the next morning. It always pays to be polite and honest with the police.

<br>Okay...so this goes on the record, then? As a misdemeanor? I'm worried about getting a misdemeanor. I want to be a teacher, and public schools have access to everything on your criminal record, from your entire life.<br><br>----<br>I DID find some things in the city code! Apparently it is illegal to park a motor home of any weight on the street in a residential, or mixed (residential and commercial) area. I assume this means that it's illegal, even if you have permission from a home owner. It says nothing of completely commercial areas. Also, exhaustive searching in this code revealed nothing on sleeping in one's vehicle.<br><br>Have a good night, guys. I hear a storm's a brewin'. Stay safe!<br><br>EDITED...<br><br>Replace "motor home" with "motor home, or any vehicle exceeding ____ pounds" (the cargo van weighs less than this). Motor home is not defined, so I am assuming they could call the cargo van a motor home, if someone sleeps in it.

 

[Seraphim]

Interesting ... so in your state someone can pull up into your driveway when you're not home, pull out a six pack of beer, sit an your&nbsp;back porch, have a brewski, and everything's fine. They can sit there until you get home and tell them to leave (assuming you notice they're back there).<br><br>I think I'd change states *grin*.<br><br>Here's Ohio's take on trespass (each number is a different tresspass offense):<br><br><p>(</p>

<p>A) No person, without privilege to do so, shall do any of the following:</p><p>(1) Knowingly enter or remain on the land or premises of another;</p><p>(2) Knowingly enter or remain on the land or premises of another, the use of which is lawfully restricted to certain persons, purposes, modes, or hours, when the offender knows the offender is in violation of any such restriction or is reckless in that regard;</p><p>(3) Recklessly enter or remain on the land or premises of another, as to which notice against unauthorized access or presence is given by actual communication to the offender, or in a manner prescribed by law, or by posting in a manner reasonably calculated to come to the attention of potential intruders, or by fencing or other enclosure manifestly designed to restrict access;</p><p>(4) Being on the land or premises of another, negligently fail or refuse to leave upon being notified by signage posted in a conspicuous place or otherwise being notified to do so by the owner or occupant, or the agent or servant of either.</p>

<p><br>Note (A)(1); it merely says to enter OR remain on the property of another - without privilige to do so - is criminal trespass. Just to enter on the land. I'm willing to wager lunch your state has a similiar section.&nbsp; That would be in the criminal codes. Yes, it would shou up on your record.</p>