What's the best excuse for sleeping in vehicle when the LEO knocks at the door

[Numpty]

Ok I'll start, with

I was really drunk last night and I lost the keys, couldn't find them so ...........

OK your turn
 Best excuse, come on you all must have some good ones

 

[ramblingvanman]

Too tired to safely drive any farther. It works for me.

 

[Almost There]

That works the best!

Any claim of too drunk to drive better be accompanied by alcohol on the breath, keys not in possession of the driver and a time frame long enough for you to be sobered up enough to drive.

If LEO asks you to move on and you get behind the wheel you're now opening yourself up to DUI charges or at the least a care and control charge.

 

[rvwandering]

Yep, too tired is best.

 

[Patrick46]

broke down and waiting for parts store to open up.

 

[BigT]

Yup. I'd just tell them I've been on the road all day and I'm having trouble staying awake. "I pulled over because I didn't think it was safe to continue."

 

[Van-Tramp]

Everyone knows my opinion on the matter; Just don't answer the knock, and then you don't have to answer this question. But to stay on topic I will simply recommend extreme caution in what you say. Let me give an example or two...

I was really drunk last night and I lost the keys, couldn't find them so...

1) You may have just admitted to drunk driving. Many DUI laws do not require you to actually be *driving* at all, just sitting in your car (alone) can be a DUI ticket.
2) Lying to the LEO is a crime and you can be prosecuted for that. If he can see your keys on your belt, then you may be in much worse shape then above

Too tired ...

Driving drowsy (which you just admitted too) is a crime in many places, and no different than drunk driving. However, I would say that this is your best if you can't STFU as a lesser-of-two-evils argument if you are in fact ticketed. The judge may be willing to let you slide if the LEO wants to be an A-hole.

You are relying on that the LEO is going to be a nice guy and willing to let you slide on admissions of breaking laws. If he is not having a good day, or had a bad call prior to you, or his wife failed to put out the night prior... you get my point.

The *best* thing to say is nothing at all.

 

[compassrose]

Recently my daughter & I headed down the interstate to pick up her co-worker's SO who had taken a prescribed medication for a condition he has. He had a bad reaction and didn't think he could drive. He was parked on the side of the interstate with the KEY IN THE IGNITION to keep the AC going (it's flipping hot in NM). He was arrested (less than 10 minutes after we told him to get off the highway) and detained overnight for driving under the influence. We do believe he was reported driving erratically. The case was tossed the next day as the judge was aware of his medical condition. My point is... he was arrested for driving under the influence simply because the key was in the ignition. That and the stupid idiot did not pull off the interstate like we told him. I guess next time a bunch of women tell him something, he might listen. Luckily the car was towed before it was vandalized.

 

[TMG51]

I typically go with, "I live in my van by choice. I'm also a salaried technology employee and work while traveling. Here's my card. If there's a reason I shouldn't be here I'll be happy to move on. Otherwise, I'm just [in here working] [watching a movie] [sleeping] [whatever I'm doing at the time]."

Only ever had one officer actually ask me to move elsewhere and that is because I was on private property and didn't realize it.

Of course, if you're in a town with ordinances against sleeping in a vehicle you wouldn't want to admit it. Otherwise, just make sure you are "parking" and not "camping."

 

[akrvbob]

Park near an auto repair shop and tell him you thought the engine was running rough and wanted to get it checked out before passing through town.
Bob

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Of course - if circumstances permit - the TRUTH is probably the best answer:

"I'm just passing through, Officer, on my way to XXX.  I didn't see any signs prohibiting overnight parking, so I decided to stop and get some rest."

Regards
John

 

[highdesertranger]

this has only happened to me once. at a park and ride right off the I-5 in kalifornia. I told them I was tired and needed to catch a few z's. they said I could not sleep in the park and ride, but if I were to drive a 1/4 mile away along side the highway I could sleep where the truckers sleep. they gave me directions, I thank them and that was that. highdesertranger

 

[MikeRuth]

Have to go with the truth on this one, if for any reason your are tripped up, they got ya!
As for the being tired and driving, could be a law in that town, don't matter, hopefully the truth is you stopped before you were to tired to drive.

I stopped at a casino somewhere on my way to Kanasas one time. Just looked like a good place and it was. I didn't stay overnight, just hung out got a few hours sleep in and moved on.

 

[mockturtle]

While the excuse of being too tired to drive might work in some instances, if your van is obviously loaded down with all your possessions, it would make more sense to say that you are on your way across the county and can't afford a motel. It would, of course, be wise to move on. If the same LEO finds you again the next night, then you are screwed.

 

[Patrick46]

If there's a reason I shouldn't be here, I'll be happy to move on.

This right here is the only thing you should ever say! ^^^

 

[SoulRaven]

I've neglected to respond to anonymous loud knocking that may or may not have been police.

The one time I have been woken by police, it was outside my area and the first night I'd ever spent in the minivan, so I was incredibly disorganized and drowsy. I tell them the truth--I'm in here because I live in a van. They took it in stride and didn't give me grief over it, didn't even ask me to move....just said that "technically" I wasn't supposed to park there overnight and asked when I planned to move along since nearby businesses would be opening soon and need the parking space. (It was right frickin' down the street from where I lived for10 years and it's used as extra parking by the locals all the time. If only some idiot hadn't been disturbing the peace nearby no one ever would have noticed my van.)

If I ever need to soften the "full time" aspect of it, I have documentation and external indicators that I'm chronically ill, and I can excuse my setup based on "I need to lay down and rest often, this setup helps me travel to medical appointments and live more independently". Even if I had housing, I'd still need my van and setup anyway, so passing it off under medical reasons is legit.

 

[USExplorer]

I write a list of all the states I've traveled through on my bumper with a Sharpie. For whatever reason, it assuages any suspicions they have, even if they are talking through the side door of an SUV to a head cowled in multiple blankets at 6 in the morning in a Detroit ghetto park. The words "passing through" = "not a problem" to a reasonable LEO, as long as your record is clean.