Not sure if this is being talked about outside of San Diego, but the City Council just gave initial approval to a new ordinance that claims to be directed at the problem of the homeless living in RVs, but will effectively ban the overnight street parking of all "oversized vehicles" (at least 27 feet long and 7 feet high), RVs (including motorhomes of any kind, campers, travel trailers, dune buggys, ATVs, jet skis and off road vehicles), and any size trailer irrespective of it's intended use. It will also impose a ban on parking within 50 feet of an intersection on all three groups. Overnight parking will be allowed if a 24 hour permit is obtained beforehand with limits of three issued consecutively, so long stays without campground access will no longer be possible. A $100 fine will be levied for either offense. It's such a shame because the beaches, mountains and deserts here are prime examples of why people own or visit with their RVs. Just to let you know that when this passes it's second vote on July 22nd (and it will almost certainly be railroaded through despite considerable opposition) and pending a final decision by the Coastal Commission, if you still want to visit you should make sure you're familiar with the permitting process and new parking restrictions or have your trip ruined with $100 tickets. Parking enforcement officers will each be given a quota of 25 a day for this ordinance alone, so they will be writing tickets and lots of them. To bring in the estimated revenue of $2.8 million, almost 28,000 citations will need to be issued annually within San Diego city limits. Be warned.http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Jul/08/sd-bans-overnight-rv-street-parking/

Just a revenue source. A lot of cities & counties are looking at ways to make more money due to the decrease because of the recession. WY just adeed a 10 cent a gallon gas tax.I doubt there is a quota. However, I suppose if you were out there for 8 hours & never wrote any cites they would be thinking you weren't doing your job.

Went back there a couple of years ago (moved to San Diego in '65, left in '06) and I was amazed at the number of ratty old motor homes of both C and A types sitting on the side streets downtown, on Fiesta Island, in OB, and on Harbor/Shelter islands by the bay. I can see where the reasoning for the law started.Let's face it, the "RV homless" probably don't always find a dump station when they need it and the nearest stormwater drain looks mighty tempting. Plus it just plain looks pretty ratty to visitors to have some of the junk I saw rolling around parked all over. As a full time resident you may not have noticed the slow increase in the numbers but coming back after being gone for 5 years it was pretty obvious.

I'm all for it and agree 100%Some people use and abuse ruining it for everybody.It's a shame local RV owners are affected because of non tax paying squatters.

I know nothing about SD, But here in Seattle, for the business owners next to where the MH's are parked. They just get tired of the trash, the break ins, etc.Every morning for some it is the same, pick up the trash, hose the poo of the sidewalk, deal with all the other issues.Not all homeless are that way. And I have no solution.Just saying, as a business owner I understand the frustration

Not expressing an opinion - just wanted to give everyone a heads up that the town is going to be a lot less RV friendly soon, irrespective of whether you're homeless and living in one, or coming to pay us a visit. I'd hate to have someone come from out of town and leave with a bad taste after being ticketed.

San Diego RV parking ban | Good Sam Community

deleted-2
Explorer
Jul 14, 2013
Where we live a crackdown on "extended stay parking" is happening.
In the past I have broken the ordinance regularly with no repercussion.
Not so this past couple of years the ordinance applies to all vehicles.

3 days is the maximum, I've been busted with a notice twice now.

I have to say I and our neighbors appreciate the increased pressure since it was requested by the neighborhood association.

Frankly I would have absolutely no problem with no overnight street parking here.
WoodGlue
Explorer
Jul 14, 2013
rockhillmanor wrote:
Wow, how do they tap into your house electric?

At my house, there is a electrical outlet on the front porch, visible from the street - So if I lived in Austin, they'd probably be bold enough to run an extension cord up there.

WoodGlue
MrWizard
Moderator
Jul 14, 2013
i uncle travels to SD several times a year, and always stays in the RV on street visiting etc.. spending money at restaurants etc. but not in campgrounds
this is not going to make him happy
noe-place
Explorer
Jul 14, 2013
You park an rv on the street around here and it'll be towed in short order. :E
bertnspike
Explorer
Jul 14, 2013
I was in San Diego last spring. Driving my RV to the RV park was a nightmare because of all the RVs parked on side streets! It's not bad enough San Diego's pavement is a wreck & lousy to drive on, these guys narrow the streets down to nothing. I absolutely understand the ruling.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 14, 2013
mlts22 wrote:
We are getting that here in Austin. In fact, come busy festivals, it isn't uncommon to come home, find someone's RV (a trailer, a "C", etc.) in your driveway plugged into your electricity and using water. When asking them to leave, they give you the middle finger, so you have to call the police on them. The police come, you file a trespass report, and the individuals just pack up, drive to the next driveway, and use that neighbor's water/electricity.

The only way to solve it is post a sign on your house about being a tow away zone, and posted, no trespassing. Without that, people can have free reign.

Wow, how do they tap into your house electric?
mlts22
Explorer
Jul 13, 2013
We are getting that here in Austin. In fact, come busy festivals, it isn't uncommon to come home, find someone's RV (a trailer, a "C", etc.) in your driveway plugged into your electricity and using water. When asking them to leave, they give you the middle finger, so you have to call the police on them. The police come, you file a trespass report, and the individuals just pack up, drive to the next driveway, and use that neighbor's water/electricity.

The only way to solve it is post a sign on your house about being a tow away zone, and posted, no trespassing. Without that, people can have free reign.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Jul 13, 2013
For years I lived and worked on Shelter Island and the bums in junked out motorhomes were a HUGE problem. Anything that wasn't nailed down disappeared. Black and grey tanks were dumped anywhere they felt like it....usually, but not always under the cover of darkness. They intimidated every one with their aggressive, sometimes violent panhandling.

In residential neighborhoods folks would buy RV's whether they had a place to park them or not. Just stick it on the street and forget about it, next to a corner blocking sight lines... who cares. They would move them a few feet a couple of times a week and the police simply had higher priorities. The new law, while far from perfect will give the local authorities the ability to deal with the folks who have created the problem.

IMHO: If you cannot afford to legally park your rig then you have no business owning one. :M
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 13, 2013
Just yet another case of everything being overly politically correct.

If the towns didn't have to be worried about special interest groups slamming them up side their head, they could have just evicted the dang homeless in RV's off the street. But no, now a days that can't happen. It's all about Oh the poor homeless. So the towns have to go about it in other ways that directly ends up putting limits on what law abiding RV owners can do with their campers.:R

So now EVERYONE has to pay the price buy not being able to park legally to access recreation.

This 'protect all homeless irregardless' is directly affecting MANY aspects of camping and RVing because they are using the same vehicles and IMHO, JMHO, IMHO it has to stop and more need to stand up to protect OUR rights as law abiding RV owners. Just saying, off my soapbox.:(
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jul 13, 2013
Jacksdad619 wrote:
long stays without campground access will no longer be possible. A $100 fine will be levied for either offense. It's such a shame because the beaches, mountains and deserts here are prime examples of why people own or visit with their RVs.

:h
The above is what it really boils down to.

Seems to me that this should only be of concern to the very small minority of RVers who indulge in what they like to call "stealthcamping". I doubt such "visitors" will be missed by locals, whose (understandable) complaints about such activities are probably the reason the Council has acted.

Most RVers go to campgrounds, or other places where RV's are allowed/welcomed.

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