cops stopping you

[lucasland]

as your full timing it, if a cop stops you and asks "do you live in your RV?". what is your response. also what do you do if they ask you if they can search your RV?

[Old-Biscuit]

My 5th wheel was my home and we traveled in our home visiting 42 states.

IF LEO every asked.........YES I am living in my home

IF LEO wanted to inspect/look around inside. Sure just as soon as the proper paper work was presented.
I'm a law biding citizen and also support law enforcement and believe in what they do.
I also believe in my constitutional rights and will exercise them vigorously.

[mockturtle]

Answer #1: Well, I'm living in it right now.
Answer #2: I don't mind at all, if you have a search warrant.

[AprilWhine]

Answer #1 : Don't look like a vagrant

Answer #2 : If you park overnight, make sure you look like a traveler, not a squatter.

[obgraham]

I'm surprised that former LEO's on here would advise allowing the officer to inspect inside my vehicle without the proper warrant/suspicion.

Every policeman I've known tells me the proper answer to "do you mind if I take a look inside" is "yes I do mind, and I'll wait here till you have the warrant".

There is a well known yootoob about this, in which the lawyer and policeman agree that there is NOTHING positive for you to come from such a search, only potential problems.

Now, if he says he will come in anyway after my refusal, I'm not going to stand in front of him. But he knows my position.

To not honor the Constitution dishonors those who defended it at great cost.

[kalynzoo]

Without reasonable cause there is little chance of being stopped . As for a search...I am a law abiding citizen, and the law says you need a warrant. So no. JMHO

[wirenutz]

Those of you that have never been through a search, remember this the cops can and sometimes do just dump your boxes and drawers out on the floor, also remember they dont clean up the mess either, keep in mind some bad cops dont want to look like a fool because they did not find any thing and plant some thing in your trailer

[Merrykalia]

I'm retired LEO and I would not allow anyone to search my property without a warrant. Just my $.02.

[skipnchar]

Pretty simple...ask to see their warrant.

[downtheroad]

I like the, "cops." Never had any interaction with them except positive ones.

If they ever wanted to search my vehicle, I wouldn't get in their way.

[pugslyyy]

hmknightnc wrote:

WyoTraveler wrote:
I don't violate the law. Everything in my RV is legal. I'd invite the officer in an offer him a beer. JMHO they are looking for bad guys not fulltime RVers. As a retired LEO I never had time to hassle good people. Crooks kept me busy.

Exactly. I don't full time but spend a large portion of 9 months of the year on the road. Any LEO is free to inspect any of my caravan anytime the want. Never been hassled by LEO, they have much better things to do than waste time with me.

I don't have anything to hide, but I don't like people in my space or looking through my stuff. If they are asking permission they don't have probable cause so I'm saying no thanks, I'd rather just be on my way.

[wirenutz]

Is the OP asking if your driving and get pulled over, or you parked and approached ?

[hmknightnc]

WyoTraveler wrote:
I don't violate the law. Everything in my RV is legal. I'd invite the officer in an offer him a beer. JMHO they are looking for bad guys not fulltime RVers. As a retired LEO I never had time to hassle good people. Crooks kept me busy.

Exactly. I don't full time but spend a large portion of 9 months of the year on the road. Any LEO is free to inspect any of my caravan anytime the want. Never been hassled by LEO, they have much better things to do than waste time with me.

[ottor]

X2 .... former LEO - if I ever ask to search a vehicle, it's not just because I'm curious. I'm suspicious of something. If its drugs, I can have a Dog run around your vehicle without a warrant. If he hits, I don't' need a warrant. Bottom line, if you have nothing to hide, why would you even ask this question? Not all police are Nazi extremists wanting to trample all over your rights - just go along with it and be thankful they're on YOUR side.

[tonyandkaren]

I think that chances of a cop asking if you live in your RV are pretty slim. As far as a search I think that they would need a warrant unless you give them permission.

We've been fulltiming for over twenty years. We often spend the night in Walmart,other big box stores and casinos. We boondock on public land. Occasionally we spend the night on the street when we're visiting people. We've never been questioned. If your RV is ratty, if you park in the same spots for weeks or if somebody complains you may get questioned. I know that the national forest in Arizona around Flagstaff has started cracking down on people who overstay their 14 day boondocking limit but that's the only instance of a problem that I've heard about.

[Jim-Linda]

lucasland wrote:
from what i've heard some places its illegal to live in your vehicle, regardless of what it is. some cops can be jerks about it too. I heard one cop recently state he keeps an eye out for some rv's cause full timing is popular for parolees and others on probation, so he likes to take an extra close look when he can

18 years full time, never had contact with PO, illegal only if you try to "live" in places where the local laws prohibit it. We have gone thru Border Inforcement check points and they just wave us thru.

Jim