RV Boondocking on city streets - where is it legal?

Hi bigdogger,

Have you had a bad experience with an RV near your property?

So you suggest that a business owner would threaten a boondocking RV with a shot gun? Do you think an RV being parked in front of your business presents a "clear and present danger"?

Perhaps the RV, near your home, belongs to a neighbor who just bought it? Or perhaps it is children being visited by their parents?

I urban boondock a lot. I've never been accosted except by a Church Minister in 12 years of doing so. I had been given permission by the staff at that location, so it all worked out well.

bigdogger wrote:
I know if you park in my neighborhood, or in front of my place of business you will quickly be visited by the local police, legal or not.
In our neighborhood, we know who should be there and who shouldn't. A vagrant staying in an RV would either ushered out by the police or by one of the residents by the business end of a shotgun. We pay a lot of money for our homes and the security of a good neighborhood, and roadside campers are not part of that deal.
Parking in the business district will earn an equally unfriendly response. Nothing spells potential crime more than people hanging around after business hours. The patrol officers will have you gone long before you enter into REM sleep.

You may find it very difficult to find a city or even small town that will allow overnight camping. Even in the nearest town to us, a town of 900 it is illegal to camp on the city streets. People can park their RVs in parking areas on their lot.

I'd suggest city parks because in some cases they have RV parking with hookups @ a reasonable rate and some also have free dry camping for up to 3 days. That is in the state of Nebraska so I don't know about anywhere else.

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500 is popular........

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

tatest wrote:

trailertraveler wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
As far as I know there is no rule or law that says you can't legally "park" on any street legal parking spot in the US.

As long as you are legally "parked" in a legal vehicle there is nothing nobody can do or will do. :B

This simply is not true, but is a common misconception. Parking involves the vehicle. Occupying/living in that parked vehicle is a completely different legal issue which as mentioned in other posts can be covered by zoning, vagrancy and a variety of other regulations.

Not only is there a difference between parking on the street and living in the street, many cities and towns have a general ban on overnight street parking. I've lived in two, have a daughter living in one currently.

Who said anything about living in the vehicle?

I said: "As long as you are legally "parked" in a legal vehicle there is nothing nobody can do or will do."

Let me give you a for instance:
Police are cruising around and spot a MH "legally parked in a legal vehicle" on the street. Hmmmm, they are legally parked so we can't tow.

Maybe some bad RV'er is in it? Knock, knock, knock. No answer. Knock, knock, knock. No answer.

All well; nobody in there. Lets go.

Now, you tell me; what else are "they" going to do?

By the way; what part of :B don't you understand. Just in case you missed it...........let me :B one more time. :R

I know if you park in my neighborhood, or in front of my place of business you will quickly be visited by the local police, legal or not.
In our neighborhood, we know who should be there and who shouldn't. A vagrant staying in an RV would either ushered out by the police or by one of the residents by the business end of a shotgun. We pay a lot of money for our homes and the security of a good neighborhood, and roadside campers are not part of that deal.
Parking in the business district will earn an equally unfriendly response. Nothing spells potential crime more than people hanging around after business hours. The patrol officers will have you gone long before you enter into REM sleep.

hershey wrote:
If you have to camp for free, please use accepted Walmarts and Truck Stops. Don't squat on city streets. You will give all Rvers a bad rap and impression to the general public.
Walmarts and Truckstops allow overnight stays and some casinos but it isn't camping, just shut the door and get a few winks and move on.

He wants to "Boondock" on city streets, do you really think he actually cares about the bad rap the rest of us get? :(

tatest wrote:

trailertraveler wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
As far as I know there is no rule or law that says you can't legally "park" on any street legal parking spot in the US.

As long as you are legally "parked" in a legal vehicle there is nothing nobody can do or will do. :B

This simply is not true, but is a common misconception. Parking involves the vehicle. Occupying/living in that parked vehicle is a completely different legal issue which as mentioned in other posts can be covered by zoning, vagrancy and a variety of other regulations.

Not only is there a difference between parking on the street and living in the street, many cities and towns have a general ban on overnight street parking. I've lived in two, have a daughter living in one currently.

Who said anything about living in the vehicle?

I said: "As long as you are legally "parked" in a legal vehicle there is nothing nobody can do or will do."

Let me give you a for instance:
Police are cruising around and spot a MH "legally parked in a legal vehicle" on the street. Hmmmm, they are legally parked so we can't tow.

Maybe some bad RV'er is in it? Knock, knock, knock. No answer. Knock, knock, knock. No answer.

All well; nobody in there. Lets go.

Now, you tell me; what else are "they" going to do?

By the way; what part of :B don't you understand. Just in case you missed it...........let me :B one more time. :R

Jeff,

Yep...wouldn't try it in San Diego....

not in my backyard !!!

Charles

trailertraveler wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
As far as I know there is no rule or law that says you can't legally "park" on any street legal parking spot in the US.

As long as you are legally "parked" in a legal vehicle there is nothing nobody can do or will do. :B

This simply is not true, but is a common misconception. Parking involves the vehicle. Occupying/living in that parked vehicle is a completely different legal issue which as mentioned in other posts can be covered by zoning, vagrancy and a variety of other regulations.

Not only is there a difference between parking on the street and living in the street, many cities and towns have a general ban on overnight street parking. I've lived in two, have a daughter living in one currently.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
As far as I know there is no rule or law that says you can't legally "park" on any street legal parking spot in the US.

As long as you are legally "parked" in a legal vehicle there is nothing nobody can do or will do. :B

This simply is not true, but is a common misconception. Parking involves the vehicle. Occupying/living in that parked vehicle is a completely different legal issue which as mentioned in other posts can be covered by zoning, vagrancy and a variety of other regulations.

Hi,

These links may be useful to you.

Free and Low Cost Campsites

Bob's Cheap or Free Campsites

not necessarily boondocking