Some of you may be in a similar situation . . . We’ve been RV’ing in California’s Gold Country since right after Thanksgiving. Reservations were made prior to the most recent lockdown at The Lakes RV, Black Oak RV, Jackson Rancheria & Vineyard RV. All were multi-day. This trip was made specifically at the request of my daughter-in-law, an A/F nurse recently sent TDY, who was concerned about my son’s (ex-Spec Ops) ability to get to SMF on his own following a traumatic brain injury about a year ago. We will be taking him Thursday.Our concern was the trip home to Murrieta from Vacaville. The route we take avoids LA and is well over 500 miles. (Can I do it in one day? Yep. Do I want to? Nope.) We always stay overnight at Orange Grove RV east of Bakersfield on 58 our last night out. Would this latest ‘directive’ prohibit a single night’s stop as we were homeward bound?I just checked the park’s website. Followed up with a phone call to confirm. No problem. If you find yourself in a similar situation, their website is a good place to check.

My understanding is "yes" it is a violation of the state health department's rules. See....https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/12/03/california-health-officials-announce-a-regional-stay-at-home-order-triggered-by-icu-capacity/"Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted."

That's a lot of acronyms that this civilian doesn't understand, but I appreciate your family's service.That's a long drive for one day in an RV. Good for you for breaking it up into two days.Bako is in Kern County, and they seem pretty sensible about their restrictions. (We camp a lot on the other side of the hills, closer to Ridgecrest.)The recent court decisions are showing that some of these blanket restrictions aren't holding up to scrutiny. Specifically, the L.A. County restaurant closures were found to be "capricious and arbitrary", and they don't weigh any risks from staying open versus risks of closing.In your case, I think you're wise to weigh the risk of driving past your safe limits against the risk that The Man doesn't want you to camp overnight. Which one is safer? If you have a contactless checkin and practice social distancing by staying in your own RV, you are much safer spending the night there than you are driving past your limits.

“The recent court decisions are showing that some of these blanket restrictions aren't holding up to scrutiny. Specifically, the L.A. County restaurant closures were found to be "capricious and arbitrary", and they don't weigh any risks from staying open versus risks of closing.”Is our moderator qualified to give this legal opinion? Read the court’s decision...at a minimum? Advocating applying a Los Angeles Superior Court decision to camping in Kern County? The camping ban is a state health department decision. No court has ruled the camping ban capricious.

Lwiddis wrote:“The recent court decisions are showing that some of these blanket restrictions aren't holding up to scrutiny. Specifically, the L.A. County restaurant closures were found to be "capricious and arbitrary", and they don't weigh any risks from staying open versus risks of closing.”Is our moderator qualified to give this legal opinion? Read the court’s decision...at a minimum? Advocating applying a Los Angeles Superior Court decision to camping in Kern County? The camping ban is a state health department decision. No court has ruled the camping ban capricious.If it makes you feel better Lwiddis, similar groups are filing this week to challenge the state's capricious standards too.Regardless though, I'm fairly certain that we shall all survive this man's overnight stay in Bakersfield. Speaking from personal experience, this is one of the least risky things going on in Bako right now.

If the campground is open and taking reservations, don't worry about it. If someone complains, say you felt unsafe driving while tired and stuck to your own RV only to get out of the area the next day.

Overnight stay in California | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

azdryheat
Explorer
Dec 15, 2020
Call the RV park and make a reservation. It's nobody's business what you're doing. It's still a free country and we have guaranteed liberties that one person in Sacramento can't take away.

BTW stating a legal opinion is just that, a legal opinion. The mod is not masquerading as legal council. Again it's a free country and we can express any opinion we choose legal or otherwise.
valhalla360
Navigator
Dec 15, 2020
If the campground is open and taking reservations, don't worry about it.

If someone complains, say you felt unsafe driving while tired and stuck to your own RV only to get out of the area the next day.
dedmiston
Moderator
Dec 15, 2020
Lwiddis wrote:
“The recent court decisions are showing that some of these blanket restrictions aren't holding up to scrutiny. Specifically, the L.A. County restaurant closures were found to be "capricious and arbitrary", and they don't weigh any risks from staying open versus risks of closing.”

Is our moderator qualified to give this legal opinion? Read the court’s decision...at a minimum? Advocating applying a Los Angeles Superior Court decision to camping in Kern County? The camping ban is a state health department decision. No court has ruled the camping ban capricious.

If it makes you feel better Lwiddis, similar groups are filing this week to challenge the state's capricious standards too.

Regardless though, I'm fairly certain that we shall all survive this man's overnight stay in Bakersfield. Speaking from personal experience, this is one of the least risky things going on in Bako right now.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Dec 15, 2020
“The recent court decisions are showing that some of these blanket restrictions aren't holding up to scrutiny. Specifically, the L.A. County restaurant closures were found to be "capricious and arbitrary", and they don't weigh any risks from staying open versus risks of closing.”

Is our moderator qualified to give this legal opinion? Read the court’s decision...at a minimum? Advocating applying a Los Angeles Superior Court decision to camping in Kern County? The camping ban is a state health department decision. No court has ruled the camping ban capricious.
dedmiston
Moderator
Dec 15, 2020
That's a lot of acronyms that this civilian doesn't understand, but I appreciate your family's service.

That's a long drive for one day in an RV. Good for you for breaking it up into two days.

Bako is in Kern County, and they seem pretty sensible about their restrictions. (We camp a lot on the other side of the hills, closer to Ridgecrest.)

The recent court decisions are showing that some of these blanket restrictions aren't holding up to scrutiny. Specifically, the L.A. County restaurant closures were found to be "capricious and arbitrary", and they don't weigh any risks from staying open versus risks of closing.

In your case, I think you're wise to weigh the risk of driving past your safe limits against the risk that The Man doesn't want you to camp overnight. Which one is safer? If you have a contactless checkin and practice social distancing by staying in your own RV, you are much safer spending the night there than you are driving past your limits.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Dec 15, 2020
My understanding is "yes" it is a violation of the state health department's rules. See....

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/12/03/california-health-officials-announce-a-regional-stay-at-home-order-triggered-by-icu-capacity/

"Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted."

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Overnight stay in California

26 Replies

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