After reading several posters give the advice that using a tote for hauling black water was illeagal in Florida's state parks, I decided to ask the source. Below is my email to the Florida Park Service and their response:QuestionI have heard that it is against the law to use a portable tote( blue tank or other designed specifically for the purpose) to transport black (sewer)water from a travel trailer to the dump station in a Florida State Park that does not offer sewer connections in it's camp ground. Can you give me some information regarding this?ResponseThank you for your interest in camping in Florida’s state parks! After some consultation with state park management and the FWC law enforcement officers who patrol our parks, I found that it is not illegal to transport black/grey waste material from your RV/Travel Trailer tank to the dump station, if you are using a “blue boy” tank tote which has been specifically designed for this purpose. The transportation of waste would be illegal if:•You were using a container that was not specifically designed for the purpose of transporting waste material;•You intentionally spilled waste material instead of depositing it properly at the dump station; or•There was a waste material spill caused by negligent behavior. Please let me know if I can provide further assistance to you regarding this matter.Julie R. KuriskoFlorida Park Service / Information SpecialistFlorida Department of Environmental Protection3800 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 535Tallahassee, FL 32399Phone: (850) 245-2157Email: Julie.Kurisko@dep.state.fl.usNot saying this is the case in your state - just ask the proper authority, but please stop informing people that this is against the law in Florida's State Parks - as it clearly is not.

cool. I never saw those posts saying it was illegal. camped many times in state parks in FL and I used blue totes and was never arrested :)good info to post!

I have been to specific parks where they have posted that it is not allowed, like St Andrews state park in PCB. There is a sign at the check in, stating so! Local ordinances or environmental conditions may supercede general park regulations so the answer is, "Maybe".

fla-gypsy wrote:I have been to specific parks where they have posted that it is not allowed, like St Andrews state park in PCB. There is a sign at the check in, stating so! Local ordinances or environmental conditions may supercede general park regulations so the answer is, "Maybe".I have replied asking specifically about St Andrews state park in Panama City Beach. Will post the reply - as I have researched camping there. Looks real nice.

2012Coleman wrote:fla-gypsy wrote:I have been to specific parks where they have posted that it is not allowed, like St Andrews state park in PCB. There is a sign at the check in, stating so! Local ordinances or environmental conditions may supercede general park regulations so the answer is, "Maybe".I have replied asking specifically about St Andrews state park in Panama City Beach. Will post the reply - as I have researched camping there. Looks real nice.It will be real interesting to see what they say. I distinctly remember the sign. I will check the brochure when I get home to see if it is in there too. This park is a great beach park but has potentially the worst park manager of any major FSP out there. This is a very busy park, one of the top 3 visitor totals in the system and the lack of maintenance is killing it. I was so frustrated with what I saw when there that I filled out the feedback form and received a response from the park manager that was all excuses about a lack of funds and the torrential rain they experienced this summer. The reply was bogus because the same issues have been noted for several years now by myself and friends of ours who visit there. The problem has become so bad I am moving to a different park next year for my summer gulfside camping trip. My observations lead me to think that the management has come up with this park specific (non official) policy just to avoid having to deal with a potential problem. The park management (not the workers/volunteers) reeks of incompetency.

Prior to getting sewage at John Pennekamp State Park, it was against the rules to transport black water in a blue boy, and it said it right in the hasnd out with the rules when you checked in. About ten years ago, it was Ok, and then some jerk tipped over his blue boy with black water while towing it, the cover came off and you can imagine the mess. They immediately put a rule against it into play, and it stated that if you were caught doing it you would be asked to leave the park.Jack L

Florida State Parks Urban Legend - Debunked | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

Lantley
Nomad
Oct 02, 2013
NanciL wrote:
Prior to getting sewage at John Pennekamp State Park, it was against the rules to transport black water in a blue boy, and it said it right in the hasnd out with the rules when you checked in.
About ten years ago, it was Ok, and then some jerk tipped over his blue boy with black water while towing it, the cover came off and you can imagine the mess. They immediately put a rule against it into play, and it stated that if you were caught doing it you would be asked to leave the park.

Jack L

I don't doubt your story But it seems sort of silly to create a rule based on one episode. Accidents will always happen. A black tank mess can be cleaned up. It's not radioactive.
NanciL
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2013
Prior to getting sewage at John Pennekamp State Park, it was against the rules to transport black water in a blue boy, and it said it right in the hasnd out with the rules when you checked in.
About ten years ago, it was Ok, and then some jerk tipped over his blue boy with black water while towing it, the cover came off and you can imagine the mess. They immediately put a rule against it into play, and it stated that if you were caught doing it you would be asked to leave the park.

Jack L
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
2012Coleman wrote:
fla-gypsy wrote:
I have been to specific parks where they have posted that it is not allowed, like St Andrews state park in PCB. There is a sign at the check in, stating so! Local ordinances or environmental conditions may supercede general park regulations so the answer is, "Maybe".
I have replied asking specifically about St Andrews state park in Panama City Beach. Will post the reply - as I have researched camping there. Looks real nice.

It will be real interesting to see what they say. I distinctly remember the sign. I will check the brochure when I get home to see if it is in there too.

This park is a great beach park but has potentially the worst park manager of any major FSP out there. This is a very busy park, one of the top 3 visitor totals in the system and the lack of maintenance is killing it. I was so frustrated with what I saw when there that I filled out the feedback form and received a response from the park manager that was all excuses about a lack of funds and the torrential rain they experienced this summer. The reply was bogus because the same issues have been noted for several years now by myself and friends of ours who visit there. The problem has become so bad I am moving to a different park next year for my summer gulfside camping trip.

My observations lead me to think that the management has come up with this park specific (non official) policy just to avoid having to deal with a potential problem. The park management (not the workers/volunteers) reeks of incompetency.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2013
fla-gypsy wrote:
I have been to specific parks where they have posted that it is not allowed, like St Andrews state park in PCB. There is a sign at the check in, stating so! Local ordinances or environmental conditions may supercede general park regulations so the answer is, "Maybe".
I have replied asking specifically about St Andrews state park in Panama City Beach. Will post the reply - as I have researched camping there. Looks real nice.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
I have been to specific parks where they have posted that it is not allowed, like St Andrews state park in PCB. There is a sign at the check in, stating so! Local ordinances or environmental conditions may supercede general park regulations so the answer is, "Maybe".
FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2013
cool. I never saw those posts saying it was illegal. camped many times in state parks in FL and I used blue totes and was never arrested :)
good info to post!

Forum Discussion

Florida State Parks Urban Legend - Debunked

26 Replies

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

New to me Lance Legend 945

Legend Television

Toy Hauler legend has passed

Legend TV

Great West Legend