Measure would put an end to free store 'camping' for RVs in Maine
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seilerbird
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In previous threads I have been told that it is not the campground owners who get these laws passes, it is disgruntled citizens complaining because people are spending more than one night camping at Walmart. If Maine passes this law I will simply not vacation in Maine as a protest.
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
In Billings,MT when they were considering similar laws I was told it was ONE campground owner and one of the well known RV clubs.
sheltie
Well-known member
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seilerbird said:
Yeah, me too!!! Oh, wait. I never go east of the Mississippi anymore so I guess that would be a hollow threat.
29er
Well-known member
Unfortunately I have to agree with the campground owner. I realize sometimes people, due to poor planning, must take advantage of "free" overnighting.
Paying 2 - 3 hundred K for a motorhome and parking it in Walmart shows something. You fill in the blank.
Paying 2 - 3 hundred K for a motorhome and parking it in Walmart shows something. You fill in the blank.
Ray D
Well-known member
Oooooohhh! 
Poor planning? :
2 - 3 hundred K? :
That paints a whole lot of people and purposes with a very wide brush!
Ray D
Poor planning? :
2 - 3 hundred K? :
That paints a whole lot of people and purposes with a very wide brush!
Ray D
I have mixed thoughts about this subject. We have never stayed overnight in a Walmart. But if I was trying to make time and just quickly passing through an area, I might be tempted to take advantage of it. But it doesn't seem fair that campgrounds are required to provide services that these overnight spots do not. :-\
Lowell said:
I share your mixed feelings. On one hand, I can understand citizens being concerned about overnight parking and/or camping grounds that feel they are unfairly treated by having to comply with different rules. That said, a business owner should have the right to allow whatever they choose assuming they own the property with the exception of activities that impact others health and safety. If a campground cannot compete with a free parking lot then they are in the wrong business or have a broken business model.
bross
Well-known member
I stayed in a campground in Maine last summer. They charged me $90.00 a night for a sight that wasn't big enough to park both the trailer and truck on. Probably the same campground owner that says HE'S being taken advantage of.
WilleyB
Well-known member
Hmm! disclaimer required ;D
quote is not directed towards the poster but quoted without malice. No offense meant I've read statements like that quite often.
Anyway that's Hog Wash, I live fairly close to Wal Mart and could care less how many RV's are there or how long they stay. Makes no difference to me and never has. However since I only started RV'ing in 2006 in the time prior to that I always wondered why the Airstream crown never returned for visits. I certainly know now and can offer proof of the Camp Ground Owners Association involvement in the fiasco now just about put to rest.
Cheers
Willis
dvsmith86
Well-known member
I think the part that is being left out of this discussion is that not only are we talking about big box parking lots, but all overnight parking outside of a designated campground. This means, no parking in Aunt Matilda's drive while visiting her, no dispersed camping on public lands, no parking out on the "back 40" even if invited by the owner.
Not only that, but as we have seen with other issues, once a state gets something like this passed, other states have a tendancy to follow. When I think of the vast tracts of public lands west of the Mississippi, I fear for the future of camping if this passes.
Just my opinion,
Doug
Not only that, but as we have seen with other issues, once a state gets something like this passed, other states have a tendancy to follow. When I think of the vast tracts of public lands west of the Mississippi, I fear for the future of camping if this passes.
Just my opinion,
Doug
I believe the Maine legislation is to ban overnight parking in commercial lots. That would allow us to park in Aunt Matilda's driveway but not at Wal-Mart or the local city park. Still don't like the legislation. I think it's up to Wal-Mart and Cracker Barrel whether or not they want my motorhome parked overnight in their lot, not the state legislature.
Wendy
Wendy
Dick and Pat
Well-known member
All winter long in Fort Pierce FL, we observed RV's oscillate back and forth on a daily basis between the Flying J and Wal Mart. Guess it's their choice, but we prefer paying some rent at a nice RV park and actually "having a life".
Not saying we wouldn't stay at a Wal Mart or Flying J if necessary, but a campground gets our business if there's one available.....unless it's a dump, of course :-\
Not saying we wouldn't stay at a Wal Mart or Flying J if necessary, but a campground gets our business if there's one available.....unless it's a dump, of course :-\
dvsmith86
Well-known member
Actually, not to be argumentative, but if you read the actual legislation as published, it could ban all overnight parking in all but designated campgrounds.
Here is a quote from the Escapees new release:
“? 2502. Camping in parking facilities prohibited.
A person may not park or occupy a recreational vehicle, as defined in Title 10, section 1432, subsection 18, in a commercial parking facility overnight. For purposes of this section, "commercial parking facility" means a parking structure or area open to members of the public for the purposes of parking their vehicles while patronizing one or more commercial establishments, but does not include a mobile home park or recreational vehicle park allowed by a municipality or a camping area licensed by the department. A person who violates the provisions of this section commits a civil violation subject to a fine of no more than $100, which must be suspended for the first violation and may be suspended for subsequent violations.”
Due to the way this is worded, these restrictions will apply to any publicly accessible parking lot. This will include casinos, truck stops, and even dirt or gravel boondock parking areas throughout the state.
While you may not agree with their analysis, that last statement is the analysis published by Escapees.
Here is a quote from the Escapees new release:
“? 2502. Camping in parking facilities prohibited.
A person may not park or occupy a recreational vehicle, as defined in Title 10, section 1432, subsection 18, in a commercial parking facility overnight. For purposes of this section, "commercial parking facility" means a parking structure or area open to members of the public for the purposes of parking their vehicles while patronizing one or more commercial establishments, but does not include a mobile home park or recreational vehicle park allowed by a municipality or a camping area licensed by the department. A person who violates the provisions of this section commits a civil violation subject to a fine of no more than $100, which must be suspended for the first violation and may be suspended for subsequent violations.”
Due to the way this is worded, these restrictions will apply to any publicly accessible parking lot. This will include casinos, truck stops, and even dirt or gravel boondock parking areas throughout the state.
While you may not agree with their analysis, that last statement is the analysis published by Escapees.
We travel to Maine fairly regularly as I grew up there and my family has reunions every three years. The city of Freeport has RV spots marked as RV only and allows overnight parking where you can walk a block to LL Beans that is open all night and enjoy convenient parking for all the other shopping in town. We almost always stop on our way out of town and spend an evening there because it is convenient and entertaining. The Maine Mall in Kittery has stores that also allow overnight parking after registering with their security people.
The campground owners in the area have been howling for years but so far have been unable to get the local communities to succumb to their interests. I have little doubt they have finally got someone in the legislature to support them.
Last summer we spent 9 of the 11 days we spent in Maine in commercial campgrounds but it seems impossible to get cg owners to understand they are in direct conflict with their customers when they push this type of legislation.
Like Montana it will take Rver's to get the politicians to reconsider.
The campground owners in the area have been howling for years but so far have been unable to get the local communities to succumb to their interests. I have little doubt they have finally got someone in the legislature to support them.
Last summer we spent 9 of the 11 days we spent in Maine in commercial campgrounds but it seems impossible to get cg owners to understand they are in direct conflict with their customers when they push this type of legislation.
Like Montana it will take Rver's to get the politicians to reconsider.
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
Take action now. I am convinenced it was the RVers that swayed the city councel to rethink their proposed actions.
dvsmith86
Well-known member
Sorry, Aunt Matilda is my pseudonym for a generic relative. From the way I read the potential for implementation of this law if passed, a relative would have to own an RV park to allow anyone to park on their property.
dvsmith86
Well-known member
Wendy, I'm probably reading too much into this. Yes, it does refer specifically to commercial parking lots. Sorry, I guess I'm getting "Chicken Little Syndrome" because of all the deficit spending going on. I'll take a deep breath next time.
Doug
Doug
