Rest area overnight stops.

Calling a Federal Marshal if your asked to leave a rest area? Really ? Might as well call the governor. You will get the same response.

.....and I'm not buying the legal aspect of advising the person asking you to leave of your " lack of sleep". First, you placed your self in that position by passing numerous exits, and now, your a safety hazard to drive to the next exit?

My retort would be I'll call you a cab, and ask if you have a preference for a wrecker.

Sounds like truck driving attorneys are providing a lack of proper council!

The Texan wrote:

dahkota wrote:
My DH is a LEO. Over the last three years he has stayed with me in rest areas in 14 states from MD to Montana to Arizona to Maine to Florida. We have never had an issue other than a loud truck idling next to us for a few hours. We have had some spectacular sunrises though. Occasionally the rest stops have a great view.

Many of us are LEO or retired LEO and have NEVER seen or experienced the horrors some talk about. Sure there will be some rest areas that I would not stay in, but those are normally very visible as you enter the rest area. Many have security now and in many rest areas, the local LEOs use it as a quiet area to get their reports done.....As a retired LEO, I have NO problem staying in most of them and have seen more problems and mobile homeless in the retail store lots.

Nobody is saying you're going to be murdered within minutes of pulling into a rest stop. I'm simply saying they get their fair share of crime and in fact are often specifically targeted by many criminals. My LEO experience is all in California, but just do a Google search of rest stop crime and you'll see it's not just limited to California.

MrWizard wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
Texas not only allows overnighting in the rest areas, they offer free wifi.

Oh Yeah ??

where are they at

i never saw any when i crossed texas 'twice' last year
in fact the road side rests, where ancient, canopies over a tables
the drive was full of pot holes, and the rest area's nothing but 'stickers and burrs", hot as hell and no water, pitiful shade, and no way to get away from the 18 wheelers, glad i only stopped during the day

I think California is putting Wi-Fi in at some of the rest stops too.

dahkota wrote:
My DH is a LEO. Over the last three years he has stayed with me in rest areas in 14 states from MD to Montana to Arizona to Maine to Florida. We have never had an issue other than a loud truck idling next to us for a few hours. We have had some spectacular sunrises though. Occasionally the rest stops have a great view.

Many of us are LEO or retired LEO and have NEVER seen or experienced the horrors some talk about. Sure there will be some rest areas that I would not stay in, but those are normally very visible as you enter the rest area. Many have security now and in many rest areas, the local LEOs use it as a quiet area to get their reports done.....As a retired LEO, I have NO problem staying in most of them and have seen more problems and mobile homeless in the retail store lots.

My DH is a LEO. Over the last three years he has stayed with me in rest areas in 14 states from MD to Montana to Arizona to Maine to Florida. We have never had an issue other than a loud truck idling next to us for a few hours. We have had some spectacular sunrises though. Occasionally the rest stops have a great view.

wb2ivu wrote:
Whilst traveling through the state of Ohio, we found one (1) rest-stop that actually had a specific area for overnight RV parking. For the cost of $20, you had a spot the offered electric. A dump station was provided on your way out.

That would be along the Ohio turnpike. I believe there are several plazas which allow RV parking with hookups.

MrWizard wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
Texas not only allows overnighting in the rest areas, they offer free wifi.

Oh Yeah ??

where are they at

i never saw any when i crossed texas 'twice' last year
in fact the road side rests, where ancient, canopies over a tables
the drive was full of pot holes, and the rest area's nothing but 'stickers and burrs", hot as hell and no water, pitiful shade, and no way to get away from the 18 wheelers, glad i only stopped during the day

They are all over the state. Go Here for more info. Follow the link to the map to see all of them.
I've overnighted at a couple of them and found them very nice. Besides wifi, they also have 24 hr security.

J-Rooster wrote:
What a great question! In Washington State your allowed by law to stay in a rest area for 8 hours. A coworker of mine before I retired pulled over in a truck chain up area (This was during the summer) on Snoqualmie Pass, WA. and went to sleep. He slept for 10 hours and when he woke up he had a ticket on his windshield from the Washington State Patrol. The ticket said your only allowed to stay in a rest area for 8 hours. Don't know about the other 49 States!

Ummmmmm, when we stayed over at one of theirs in WA along I90, not only did they provide a dump station, but the lady's club came early in the morning to open a stand for free coffee and donuts and when we went back to get some favorites to take along with us, it thrilled the one who baked them. I did leave them a donation, of course.
Couldn't beat that with a stick.

BB_TX wrote:
Texas not only allows overnighting in the rest areas, they offer free wifi.

Oh Yeah ??

where are they at

i never saw any when i crossed texas 'twice' last year
in fact the road side rests, where ancient, canopies over a tables
the drive was full of pot holes, and the rest area's nothing but 'stickers and burrs", hot as hell and no water, pitiful shade, and no way to get away from the 18 wheelers, glad i only stopped during the day

I feel much safer in a Walmart parking lot, provided it is allowed by the manager. Way to much bad stuff goes on interstate rest areas. And yes, I have seen it, as a over the road trucker! Way, way, to much bad stuff!!!