What Are The Consequences?

[den18]

Now that I am the proud new owner of a camper van, and I have moved on from the planning stages, I wanted to know what the consequences for stealth camping/boon docking&nbsp;are if caught.<br /><br />What should I be ready for if I am caught on a grocery store parking lot for example after it is closed? What about a 24 hour place that is still open?&nbsp;<br /><br />Would I just be told to move along or could I get into actual trouble with the law?<br /><br />All answers appreciated!<br /><br /><br />

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;I never heard of anyone getting into actual trouble. We've stayed in store lots many times over the years and have been asked to move just a few times. Most of the time it's the store's security force that will ask you to leave. Just once we were told by the police that if we didn't move we ran the risk of being towed because of city ordinances prohibiting sleeping overnight in a vehicle.<br /><br />&nbsp;There are no cut and dry "rules" about where it's more acceptable to park in store lots but we've found that signs forbidding it are posted more often in tourist areas and very wealthy neighborhoods.

 

[sl1966]

From everything I've read ... at best you're asked to leave. At worst they ticket you (depending on the local laws).<br /><br />

 

[Pikachu711]

I'll echo what tonyandkaren mention as to what degree of legal trouble you will actually have if parked on a closed business after it has closed.<br /><br />In the past, I've worked as a security officer&nbsp;(S.O.) and I've had to ask a van dweller to leave the property. (Sorry guys! It was my job.) The biggest issue was just getting the people&nbsp;illegally parked to leave&nbsp;the property. Beyond that there were no other legal consequences. The only thing I might&nbsp;do is put your vehicle information (make, model, registration, etc.) in my Daily Activity Report (D.A.R.) and continue my patrol of the property. Once you had left it was a closed&nbsp;issue.<br /><br />I can't address the issue of how a local law enforcement officer (L.E.O.) would react but I would assume that it would be the same to some degree. Unless&nbsp;the LEO had more serious issues (warrants, vehicle registration issues, etc.) other than being illegally parked on the property&nbsp;you&nbsp;would most&nbsp;likely be asked to leave the property.<br /><br />It all comes down to your attitude as well. As long as you were somewhat respectful of me as a S.O. I would politely ask you to leave the property. I treated people like I wanted to be treated.<br /><br />Hopefully this will help you understand the issue from a former security officer's (S.O.'s) perspective. Please don't hold this against me! The bottom line is that I had to keep the client &amp; my supervisor satisfied that I was doing my job properly. If I didn't, I heard about it from employer.

 

[Seraphim]

Trespassing - the classification depends on the the state law. Basic trespass in Ohio is an M4 punishable by a $250 fine and ten days (I think, off hand) in jail. That's a maximum penalty; the judge can do no more than that. So the possibilitis are from nothing will happen to those maximums. It will depend on the state.<br /><br />If a business is closed and you're on the property, that's trespassing. If you're on the property of a business but not conducting business there, it also can fall under trespassing - at the whim of the property owner.<br /><br />What WILL happen? there's no way of knowing, though probably you'll be told to move along. It depends on the officer and the property owner.&nbsp; *shrug* The officer may be inclined to move you along, but if the owner wants you charged, you get charged. Rarely will an officer charge trespassing without communicating with the owner. If he thinks you're up to something else illegal, though, he might issue a charge. The problem with that is the officer can lose the case if the owner later says he didn't mind you being there. Most businees owners will support their local constabulary, though, and back up their decisions. Departments have emergency files, and an officer can get in touch with a property owner at 2 am if necessary. Generally, it's not worth the officer's effort.<br /><br />" At worst they ticket you "<br /><br />A trespass&nbsp;ticket is a criminal summons, not to be confused with a traffic ticket. In Ohio, a summons can be issued for most misdemeanors, but it is still an arrest, even if you are not cuffed and taken to headquarters. I just don't want anyone to minimalize the potential problems of 'only a ticket'.

 

[LunaticFringeInc]

I will echo the post by Pikachu711. &nbsp;Most Security Guards dont get paid enough to care and will only do what they "have" to do to stay out of hot water with the client or the boss. &nbsp;Be cool about it and most will return the courtesy. &nbsp;In fact they just might tell you where you can go and slide under the radar!<br /><br />The cops thats a different story. &nbsp;In most instances it aint worth the hassle or the paperwork theyd have to do. &nbsp;Besides most cops would rather be out doing more important things given the choice. In many areas they are too busy with backed up calls to waste their time on you as long as your not causing a problem. &nbsp;But in citys where there is a ordinance regarding loitering, sleeping in a vehicle ect...it might be a different story and they might have to actually do something about it other than ask you to leave. &nbsp;This would be especially true in a case where dispatch was called and you were reported vs just being discovered. &nbsp;In such cases a cop may not have the discretion to handle it as he deems appropriate...ie, asking you to just move along.<br /><br />I have worked as a Police Officer and now as a Lt. in a private security firm and I have never herd of anyone getting seriously jacked with unless there were some other issues, such as wants and warrants, no registration or insurance, gun or drug possession charges ect., or you copped an attitude and played "Sea Lawyer".

 

[citytravelfotos]

BTW, there is a difference between probable and possible. &nbsp;It is possible that one may get ticketed for trespassing in a grocery store. &nbsp;Is it probable? &nbsp;I think that at most they will ask you to leave, and if you do not, you are much more likely to get charged with trespassing. I'm a photographer, and I know that as a photographer, they must first ask me to leave before they can call a LEO and charge me with trespassing, if I am in an area that the public is normally assumed to be freely able to enter.<br /><br />From this website for photographers:<br /><br />http://www.photosecrets.com/photography-law-property-trespassing<br /><br />"Can you Be Prosecuted?<br /><br />It depends on where you are as different places have different statutes<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In California for example, your mere presence on land which is open to the public is not illegal - you must also have 'the intention of interfering, obstructing or injuring' people or business activity to be illegally trespassing (CA penal code 602j). &nbsp;If you're on land not open to the public (other than a dwelling), it's not illegal unless you refuse or fail to leave "when requested to do so" (CA penal code 602n). &nbsp;You can only be arrested by the police after they've received a signed 'Trespass Arrest Authorization Letter.' "<br /><br />The best advice thus is to be familiar with state and municipal city codes, as in this case with California it seems much more lenient.

 

[SoulRaven]

The issue can be summed up rather easy, it is the attitude you have when faced with such things... A bad attitude will get you no where, and may just get you further in trouble depending the attitude of the other person... I always have believed in thank you, a smile and a kind word will get you allot further in such situations... If asked to leave say you will and ask if there is some place close by that would be ok with them for the rest of the night... The trick is to not stand out, but blend in, dont be the person who is given an inch and takes a mile abusing the situation...

 

[Ricekila]

Now that I am the proud new owner of a camper van

<br /><br />The only trouble your gonna be in -- is if you dont post up some "Photos"

<br /><br />First is -- no pudding - lets not find out what happens next

 

[angeli]

Ricekila,<br /><br />Don't forget the noodle spanking.&nbsp; Definitely no pudding, and noodle spanking.&nbsp;

 

[oldsoul]

lol, im thinking they may take away your birthday or stamp no desert on your meal card. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[ParadiseParrot]

Well pretty much your only trespassing if someone asks you to leave and you do not thats as far as private property goes. You can always say you didn't see the signs and they invite the public to use the property. I have never heard of an actual arrest or ticket if someone was asked to leave and they say " of course" I didnt know/see sign. HAve a nice night.<br /><br />Boondocking i.e. self contained camping in a rural area without permit.<br />Depends if its legal where u are. All the info is on the internet. Day use of these lands is all legal so the most u are going to get is kicked out after 2 weeks or told to move to an approved camping spot etc. Dont burn the forest down and i doubt you will have any issue. Lots of wild places to chill out still.<br /><br />Urban stealth camping ...well if thats your game then you have an education coming. You are in effect using the Man's city without paying.<br />Billionaire don't get richer if you do that my friend so expect some issues until you get a Master's in Stealth Vamping in your area. The places the cops could care less if you park are not places you are going to care to be.<br />Florida is RV city so they are left alone pretty much. But go to an expensive city like Seattle , SF or Boston and try and live in Walmart for more than one night and you might have issues.<br /><br /><br />