I found out recently, I looked at the city statute, which states, “No overnight camping or sleeping in vehicles on public roadways is permitted…”

That sleeping in a vehicle within city limits is prohibited, as a blanket rule, is absurd! I can understand why it should be prohibited to VISIBLY sleep in your vehicle… because passersby on the sidewalk may see an unconscious individual in a front or back seat and not know whether the individual is asleep or otherwise incapacitated such as not breathing! This makes sense as a rule.

BUT to, in a blanket manner, prohibit sleeping in vehicles is hugely absurd.

We already have laws in place prohibiting all the things that “justify” the blanket statute, such as:

• staying parked in one place too long,
• peeing in public,
• littering,
• etc… !

So why make the lives of those who are already struggling financially that much worse by prohibiting them from sleeping in their vehicles if done so in a manner in which nobody knows, such as while in a camper, rv or van… ? Huh?

Then again, who would know, right?

So, bottom line, if you are in within a city limit that prohibits sleeping in a vehicle, even if your vehicle is designed for or retrofitted for such activity, be smart.

Don’t be like me! I made two mistakes.

I left the van side door just open and held close to closed with a bungee cord to allow some of the heat to escape while I ran a fan and did some writing. Someone called the police because of this… the door being slightly open! The officer told me, when I asked, that it was ok to park there, but I made the mistake of telling the officer I was living in my van until I found a place to stay. I felt this was better than lying since it was probably assumed already. I’m not one of those guys who gets off on exercising his rights in a cocky manner, and as much as I prefer to be friendly and honest, I am a little upset at myself for not saying less. There is nothing dishonest about insisting upon that I answer no questions, but even that, if not done carefully, can lead to problems with police who have a chip on their shoulder or who have had a stressful day. So anyway, the next morning, I was still in the same place, and sure enough… tap, tap, tap… knock knock, knock! I was silent and didn’t answer and the officers left. Lesson learned.

Don’t tell anyone, be sneaky!!!

Shadow Living talks about becoming “Stealth Sufficient”; it has no reviews yet but I am curious about it, and maybe one of you will beat me to reading it and comment below.

How have you been smart… or NOT… about this sort of thing?

Speak Your Mind Below!!!

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