Overnight stay in California

[aerbus32]

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.

[Lwiddis]

Our Moderator says he/she is located in “The West.” A Californian? Or just attempting to control California and OUR response to Covid-19?

OP, a Californian, asked about the legality of a one night RV stay in California. My response said I didn’t believe it was allowed and I posted the state health department statement and website regarding the issue. The post was deleted because the moderator disagreed with the health department’s position.

Disagree with this moderator on anything....post deleted.

[dedmiston]

Lwiddis wrote:
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."

This applies to State campgrounds, not RV parks. It doesn't apply to a private RV park in Bakersfield. Staying at this park won't violate the State's capricious restrictions.

According to your current stated location (Lone Pine), I assume you're camping right now. Even if you aren't camping now, you've mentioned many of the spots where you've camped since you left Mojave months ago. How about we give the OP a break and let him camp too, especially now that we know that he isn't breaking any State restrictions whatsoever. Deal?

Hopefully the OP will do all of the responsible things, like wash his hands, not touch his face, wear a mask, and practice social distancing. Beyond that, let's let the Bakersfield chips fall where they may.


(Opinions stated here do not represent Camping World or their affiliates.)

[CA_Traveler]

Orange Grove is a nice CG and will give you a fresh start for the next day. That is what I'd do and from your post so should you.

[dedmiston]

Camping World doesn't pull my puppet strings. I get to use my own brain. It's awesome. It's one of my favorite body parts. Try it.

And call it a hunch, but I'd be willing to bet that Camping World doesn't want us to stop camping...in the world. Or maybe I'm reading too much into the company name.

[Lwiddis]

Similar groups are filing? Another assertion of a possible future action by somebody.

“...the state's capricious standards ” This is Camping World’s approved policy?

[dedmiston]

By the way Lwiddis, our esteemed California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly admitted last week that the state isn't actually relying on any data to support their closures and that there is no industry-specific breakdown on transmissions in different environments (indoor dining, outdoor dining, parks, beaches, mountains, grocery stores, or even RV parks & campgrounds).

Inquiring about spending the night in Bakersfield does not make aerbus32 the new face of Al Qaeda. He's just a man who wants to pull over for the night. I don't think he needs your permission for this. And I don't think I need your permission to bring up these recent court decisions.

I'm pretty sure you don't live in Lone Pine, Lwiddis, so surely you understand the realities of moving from Point A to Point B without the benefit of transporter beams. Presumably you stopped someplace for gas and maybe even groceries. But nobody is brow beating you for this (yet).

[azdryheat]

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]

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]

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]

“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]

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]

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."