Mass DRC (State Parks) Email Warning

Received this today from DRC, I guess they are having a problem with people not following the spirit of the rules, and they have decided to get serious. I have never received one of these emails in the past. We don't camp long enough (due to work) to be impacted....

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Dear MassParks Camper,

Thank you for choosing Massachusetts State Parks for your camping destination this summer. Whether this is your first visit or an ongoing family tradition, we look forward to sharing these wonderful camping areas with you. It’s important to us that our special camping facilities are available to as many Massachusetts residents and visitors as possible and so I’m writing today to remind all our campers of an important regulation intended to provide equitable access to all.

MassParks has a longstanding regulation limiting stays in our busy campgrounds to no more than 14cumulative days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. (The regulation is included at the end of this email.) This regulation was introduced many years ago to help ensure that many Massachusetts taxpayers and visitors are able to enjoy the wonderful camping experiences in the Commonwealth’s State Parks. The two week limit information is included in the reservation process; however, a recent review of camper reservations at some of our most popular campgrounds reveals that some customers have made reservations beyond these regulated requirements during the 2013 camping season.

Please review your scheduled reservations for all MassParks campgrounds this season and cancel or modify reservations that do not comply with this regulation. MassParks is waiving all reservation cancellation or transfer fees for customers who voluntarily cancel or transfer noncompliant reservations to an alternate location. MassParks has many wonderful camping opportunities across the Commonwealth and we would love to introduce our campers to new places and experiences.

To modify or cancel any camping reservations that are in violation of this policy, please email ReserveAmerica at: ao.customerhelp@activenetwork.com and include your name, telephone number, best day and time to contact you, and your reservation number. You will not be charged cancellation or transfer fees. Email Requests to change/cancel these reservations must be received by May 15, 2013 to avoid the $10 cancellation/transfer fees. Throughout the 2013 camping season our campground staff will be regularly reviewing incoming reservations and identifying those that show common addresses, customer names, customer numbers, phone numbers, or vehicle registrations and identifying those that are out of compliance with this regulation. Reservations that are inconsistent with this state regulation may be cancelled. All applicable cancellation fees will be applied and the customer notified. Customers who are already in camp when non-compliant reservations are discovered may be evicted.

If you have any questions about this regulation or its applicability to your reservation, please contact us at dcr.campinginfo@state.ma.us. We know how much you enjoy MassParks campgrounds and we appreciate your help to ensure that that these unique camping experiences are available to as many campers as possible. Thank you for camping with us. We look forward to your visit.

Sincerely,

Priscilla Geigis
Director, MassParks

304 CMR 12.24
(5)(a) Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, no person or recreational camping vehicle shall occupy any designated cabin or camping area for a period of time exceeding 14 cumulative calendar days unless approved by the Area Supervisor. The Area Supervisor shall approve requests for an extension of the camping period from one to three days at a time, only if:\
1. Newly arrived campers can be accommodated in the camping area;
2. The registered camper has complied with all DEM regulations, rules and policies while camping.

(b) The Area Supervisor may approve registration of a recreational camping vehicle for more than 14 cumulative days between Memorial Day and Labor Day only if:
1. An extension is approved under 304 CMR 12.24(5)(a);
2. The campsite is registered in the name of the camper who has not previously been registered in the camp ground between Memorial Day and Labor Day; and
3. The equipment has not previously occupied a site within the campground within the previous 14 days.

Gene_Ginny
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
wxtoad wrote:
...There's an easy fix for the "no shows" that book more than they actually plan to use - the policy should be that if the person with the reservation doesn't show up on the appointed day, the next morning that site becomes available to anyone else. ..
That works in RI.

"Each campsite must be occupied on the first night of the permit and must be occupied at least four (4) nights during each week of the camping period. Noncompliance with the above is grounds for immediate revocation of the permit."
AlabamaTraveler
Explorer
Nov 26, 2013
I have a friend that lives at Tannehill State Park here in Alabama. Every 14 days he exits the park, makes a U-turn, comes back in and registers. He is alone and retired. He has been there 2 years. Sure, the park knows this, but he is following the rules.
dieharder
Explorer
Nov 26, 2013
the_happiestcamper wrote:
Fix the reservation system. Any programmer can count how many days are in a database for a particular user..

For one user, sure. But I can be a user... my wife can be a user... my children can be users... could probably register my dog as a user. This is why they're going beyond looking for one name and looking for common phone #'s, addresses, etc.

A DBA can easily retract information from the database on any input field and create a script that any monkey can run whenever they want. Vehicle registration will probably be the easiest because it's unlikely that one household would hold multiple RVs.
wxtoad
Explorer
Nov 26, 2013
GoneCamping wrote:
I tried to book a site at Wells SP in Sturbridge a few years back, managed to find a couple suitable sites, but almost everything was booked solid. When I got there (stayed a week) the place was nearly empty, Rangers said the sites were all reserved with "no shows" apparently.

We live a mile from Wells SP and go over there several days a week to walk, and yes, during the week the place is pretty quiet, despite what the reservation system shows.

There's an easy fix for the "no shows" that book more than they actually plan to use - the policy should be that if the person with the reservation doesn't show up on the appointed day, the next morning that site becomes available to anyone else. The park can send an email to the original reserver telling them they have violated park policy and their reservation has been cancelled.

I also agree with the poster who said there should be more non-reservable sites.

Ted H.
Mike__Rose
Explorer
Nov 16, 2013
It is now November and the DCR has not contacted me regarding the grey water dumping issue by host camper at Scussett Beach, MA.
monkey44
Nomad II
Jul 30, 2013
I believe the answer to some of these issues can be found in the reservation rules. IF you can reserve all sites, then people will continue to abuse the "number of days" rule to skirt the reservations system.

One answer: Make half sites reserve, half sites first-come. It allows the campers that don't want or need reservations to come and enjoy the parks.

OR at least, if a no-show by 7PM with no phone call for arriving late, then it should be available.

In fact, I'd be willing to bet anyone that if we completely dumped a reservations system altogether, the majority of campers would be able to camp and could arrive and book a campground (except possibly long weekends) and it would eliminate the empty sites due to skirting the system.

I know, I know, some NEED to book at certain time, but if NO ONE could reserve, then all empty sites would be empty and bookable, instead of empty and, well... empty.

For example: We were at Everglades, and a small part of that national park has electric HU (41 sites out of about 300). We saw eleven open 'E' sites at 7PM, and tried to book one. All reserved ... so we took a no HU site. Next morning, eight were still empty, over the next few days, we could not book an 'E' site, but each day a similar number was available, and mostly the same ones some folks booked and never showed, or booked longer than used.
Mike__Rose
Explorer
Jul 30, 2013
We just left Scusset Beach after a two week stay. We were surrounded by empty campsites for most of our stay. This used to be one of our favorite spots for getaway time between trips. This past trip was unpleasant because of the host camper draining grey water next to my picnic table! He had a white hose connected to his sewer pipe which lead into the bushes. I reported it to the rangers and at the camp office. The ranger informed me that white hoses are for water. Yea, but NOT when connected to the sewer outlet. I then took pictures of this particular site plus one other. One camper just opened his grey water valve and let it empty on the ground! I filled out the survey from the MA DCR and hope to hear from them soon. I was told by other. Camper that the. State is now allowing people to camp for more then 14 days. We know of one family there for 4 weeks. This is a beautiful park and I hope they will maintain it and stop people from running it. The Friend of Scusset work hard to keep the park nice. It would be ashamed to see the place go under. I am now waiting for the DCR to contact me regarding my survey.
GoneCamping
Explorer
May 06, 2013
I tried to book a site at Wells SP in Sturbridge a few years back, managed to find a couple suitable sites, but almost everything was booked solid. When I got there (stayed a week) the place was nearly empty, Rangers said the sites were all reserved with "no shows" apparently.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
May 04, 2013
paulcardoza wrote:
Hmmmmm..... Using Reserve America, it's easy to skirt the system. All you need is multiple user accounts. If this is such a big issue, all the CG needs to do is pay attention to who is there and for how long. We know people who skirt the system this way and spend many prime weeks at popular Mass CG's, like Scusset Beach. Heck, we did it one year to get an extra week there.

Sounds like you're proud of it. Think of other people, too!
crabbin_cabin
Explorer II
May 03, 2013
monkey44 wrote:
What MASS REC is trying to deny is folks that hog the weekends. They sign up for weekend, then out, then weekend, then out, then weekend, for the whole season, and ties up all the weekends so no one can get a full week in one site in a row.

And a big Hooray for them!! and for the guy from WA - there is a whole lot of camping in your state than just the State owned parks. - We will be spending a month in WA this summer.