Getting busted for sleeping in a car.

So, I got busted twice with no serious reprecusions so far. A little background: I am living the vagabound dream not bothering anybody, just being a free spirit.
Who has stories of your years on the road? Different states..worldwide advice too?

Walmart parking lots and truck stops havent been bothered in those. Starbucks provides free internet and they have the best bathrooms since they are single person with locks on the door...good place for a baby wipe bath and a shave

Get a car cover.

Zirkel wrote:Get a car cover.

Kinda difficult to put it on while you're in the car, no?

Stephanie2013 wrote:So, I got busted twice with no serious reprecusions so far. A little background: I am living the vagabound dream not bothering anybody, just being a free spirit. Who has stories of your years on the road? Different states..worldwide advice too?

Not nearly as dangerous as preaching a dangerous and violent ideology, but still more illegal: I love this schizophrenic nightmare!

Just don't live in those "fascist" states and you will be all good, I hear there are a few states left with freedom, you do this research, I already did.

The sad news is that fascism is all the rage these days, from music, to babies, to drugs, to sexual preferences, so,

Who don't you get a job you dirt-bag!!!

Simply put, you are offending people with your lowly dirt bag presence; just like music, logical ideas, and thinking for ones' self is offensive to those who view themselves as the righteous inheritors of Amerika.

Get with it, there is only one choice, that choice is progress, that choice is freedom, and if you don't like it, you can get the free fuck out of this free to be fascist paradise.

AMERICA!!!!!!

Rant over.

^^^

:)

I heard a story of a kiwi climber sleeping in a rental car in Yosemite. Coming from NZ, he had no idea he was breaking the (idiotic) law. So, when he argued with cop, he was put in jail in Fresno and got raped. Haven't found interweb verification.

naturalnews.com/040043_poli…

David Sahalie wrote:I heard a story of a kiwi climber sleeping in a rental car in Yosemite. Coming from NZ, he had no idea he was breaking the (idiotic) law. So, when he argued with cop, he was put in jail in Fresno and got raped. Haven't found interweb verification.

Sounds like an internet fable. Besides, who would be stupid enough to argue with a cop in a foreign country, especially if all they're doing is handing you a ticket (and you'll likely to be leaving the country anyways). Try that routine in the third world and you'd be seriously hosed. Ever seen 'Locked Up Abroad'?

Cops have a waaaaay shorter fuse in the US, ESP. California than civilized places like Europe, au, NZ.

David Sahalie wrote:Cops have a waaaaay shorter fuse in the US, ESP. California than civilized places like Europe, au, NZ.

Wow, it sounds like you've done some pretty extensive international psychiatric profiling to determine this so confidently? Impressive.

Kenan wrote: Kinda difficult to put it on while you're in the car, no?

2 or 3 reflective sun shades that roll up. Front and back windows, and maybe even over your sleeping self and gear for the third. I use busy all night gas station/truck stops and park a bit away from busy sections..but not for more than 6 hours of sleep.

So lame we cant sleep in our own cars..

Wont stop me...

Fuck paying for hotels 2-3 days a week, not gonna happen...

What about sleeping in a pickup with a cab in the back equipped with privacy shades? Is that illegal in CA? Is the issue spending the night in a parking lot or the actual act of sleeping in a car itself?

Stephanie2013 = Elanor. You've all been trolled. Don't feed the trolls.

Rockin'Out,

Been up to the Gunks much?
New Paltz Starbucks Potty Cam

In order, over the course of many years:

1) Orlando Florida, private security asked me to leave so I did.. no sense in getting the holice involved.

2) San Diego - super violent cop threatened to falsely arrest my girlfriend and I. I'd say we were pretty close to getting beat up and arrested. Stayed cool and got the fuck out of there.

3) Redding Ca - cops banging on windows and shining spotlights, flashlights for about 15a minutes, then parked around the corner so I'd think he left and "come out of hiding". I just never answered the door.. they came back a few times throughout the night, but no problems.

4) hotel security asked me to leave within moments of pulling in.. some ritzy place in the NW.. hardly surprising.

Many hundreds of nights. Kids sleep free! Just keep your curtains drawn and guns loaded

traveling cross country for 2 months in my little car I've slept in walmart parking lots (even got the ok to pitch a tent behind them in one place), fast food parking lots, rest stops (an obvious choice) and the side of the road. I had a light shone on me once on the side of the road and then was left alone and told to leave when parked in the lot of Zion (no camping in the lot).

Really, just give it A thought. People are not going to be cool with you sleeping in your car in a residential area, nor in front of a closed business because its sketchy. Other than that, I've never run into issues.

H.. wrote: because its sketchy. Other than that, I've never run into issues.

Which law refers to "sketchy"?

Wake up people. The only rights you have are the ones you know you have and are willing to defend. If you are not breaking a law its that simple.

Sorry, the police aren't really into protecting your rights these days.

In southern California me and my buddy were woken up by the cops with guns drawn and very hostile. I got a ticket but i dont think I paid it.
Another time in NH I was woken up while sleeping on top of my jeeo cherokee and got a rather steep fine and had to leave the area. We got an early start climbing that day!

I've probably logged 2K nights of sleeping in my truck or van over the past 15 years. Best advice I can offer would be to look at a map, have some idea as to where your headed, and try and make it there before it gets dark. Driving around looking for a spot to park for the night sucks.

I've found (with rare exceptions) that parking and sleeping in your vehicle where you know you're not supposed to be is more of a hassle than it's worth. If you are busted for sleeping somewhere, be humble, and respectful. Know your 4th amendment rights, quote it to them if they're wanting to search your stuff (your home), and tell them you're going to video tape the search. But humility and honesty counts for a lot. 'I was too tired to keep on driving, I'll be gone in the morning.' And get up early and leave. Telling a cop anything about climbing, or where you're headed for climbing, just makes them think you're a dirtbag- something they don't understand.