No more boondocking in Laughlin?

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Apparently the county which includes Laughlin, NV, is cracking down on boondockers, including those in casino and hotel parking lots.  See http://www.laughlintimes.com/articles/2006/01/25/news/local/news960.txt

 

[Ned]

That new regulation was issued by the health department.  They were led to believe that self contained RVs are a health hazard.

 

[Tom]

They were led to believe that self contained RVs are a health hazard.

Now that's sheer ignorance on their part.

BTW does anyone know where the RVers quoted in the article would usually go for a sewer dump and water top-up? It sounded like they stay in place for a weeks or months.

 

[Ned]

Coincidentally, this ruling was issued about the same time KOA bought the campground in Laughlin across the street from one of the casinos, according to another source I read this morning.

 

[Ron]

Hmmm, I wonder if Good Sam / Affinity Group are at work again.

 

[Wendy]

Another place we probably won't be stopping again. We usually visit Laughlin a couple of times a year, sometimes staying in the campgrounds, other times just parking in a casino lot. If the city doesn't want me there unless I stay in a campground, then I'll be glad to stay away.

And unless my geography is mixed up, Clark County includes Henderson and Las Vegas. If this is a county ordinance, how is this affecting the casinos there (not to mention Wal-Marts, Camping World, and more)? And the raceway during Nascar week? They have a huge camping area that you pay big bucks to park in but it doesn't have a single sewer hookup. And shouldn't campgrounds be forced to close down their dry camping/no hookup areas?

 

[Tom]

shouldn't campgrounds be forced to close down their dry camping/no hookup areas?

Good point Wendy, although I suspect they'd pass as "OK" if they have a dump station on site.

 

[Wendy]

Here's another article from a couple of days ago. Seems no one can explain why they just started enforcing a 1970 law and why just Laughlin when Vegas and Henderson are also in Clark County. Pahrump (located in Nye County) is beginning to look better and better.

http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2006/02/02/news/local/local3.txt

 

[Ron]

Las Vegas has more money and therefore more pull.  I am in agreement with you Wendy we don't need to stop where we are not wanted.  Laughlin is off the list of places to visit.

 

[Betty Brewer]

Las Vegas has more money and therefore more pull.? I am in agreement with you Wendy we don't need to stop where we are not wanted.? Laughlin is off the list of places to visit.

I read the detail in the fine print that the problem was caused by those who stayed for months as a  resident in the parking lots. I will continue to go to Laughlin and to stay in the RV parks where I've always stayed.  The Riverside has great views up on the top and a shuttle to everywhere. And it's not like my not going there would break them!

Betty

 

[Ron]

We have never stayed in a casino parking lot at Laughin either but we have stayed at a hotel and in the riverside campground but no more.  Besides Laughlin was never that great of an attraction to us.  I will not if at all possible contribute one cent to a comunity that shows they do not want RVers by forcing them to park in a campground.  The riverside does have some views but never are they worth $60 a night like the charged over New Years.  Its not really that great of a campground IMHO.  Laughin is off our list of places to go,

 

[Betty Brewer]

We have never stayed in a casino parking lot at Laughin either but we have stayed at a hotel and in the riverside campground but no more.? Besides Laughlin was never that great of an attraction to us.? I will not if at all possible contribute one cent to a comunity that shows they do not want RVers by forcing them to park in a campground.? The riverside does have some views but never are they worth $60 a night like the charged over New Years.? Its not really that great of a campground IMHO.? Laughin is off our list of places to go,

We paid $254.66 for 7 nights at the Riverside.  Three of those nights( the day before New Year's , New Year's Day and the day after) were their Holiday rates.  The place was completely full. The regular Sunday to Thursday rates are $23 plus tax and the Friday, Saturday rates  are $25 per night plus tax.  I, for one appreciate that the casinos are weeding out the long term  tenants. ( I do not consider these folks true RVers)  At my stay there it was scary walking through those parking lots with those who took advantage of an overnight policy to make it their entire winter destination resort.  big bon fires in trash cans, Cargo trailers with ATV's, bar b que's set up, trash all over and now they have spoiled it for the person who truly just wants to over night and visit a casino.  I don't blame the casinos or city , I blame those who take advantage of the situation and forced the issue to ban overnights.
Betty

 

[Tom]

Betty,

Based on your description, I have to agree that it was a good move to get the place cleaned up. As you say, once again it's the few who spoil it for everyone..

 

[Wendy]

I agree that the CASINOS as private property owners have the right to toss out the squatters but does that give the city/county/state the right to enforce a previously non-enforced law and toss out everyone including the guy who stops for one night?? Don't private property rights count for anything anymore?

 

[jerryarlyne]

Coincidentally, this ruling was issued about the same time KOA bought the campground in Laughlin across the street from one of the casinos, according to another source I read this morning.

Ned,

I hav not been to Laughlin in a few years but the only C/G across the street from a casino that I remember was the Riverside. Is this now a KOA?

Jerry

 

[Betty Brewer]

I hav not been to Laughlin in a few years but the only C/G across the street from a casino that I remember was the Riverside. Is this now a KOA?
Jerry

Jerry, We don't think the Riverside is  KOA.
Betty

 

[jerryarlyne]

Jerry, We don't think the Riverside is  KOA.
Betty

Thanks Betty, I didn't think so but you never know.

Jerry

 

[D2]

If the law has been on the books since the 1970's, that was a time when RV's were primarily travel trailers, some without gray tanks, and it was o.k. to dump gray water on the ground (at least where we used to camp in the early '80's in a '70's Airstream TT).  Could that possibly have something to do with the original law being passed?  Perhaps the antiquated law does not take into consideration the changes in today's RV's with full facilities. 

D2

 

[Ned]

Jerry,

I don't know the name of the campground, I was quoting another source.

D2,

The question isn't the law itself, but why it's suddenly being enforced by the health department.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I don't know about Nevada specifically, but in most states an incorporated city like Las Vegas is an independent political entity and its laws, health regs, etc. are therefore independent of the county.  They would not be affected by a county law or reg unless they chose to adopt it as their own.

Not having heard the other side of the story, we don't know if some Rvers may have been causing a sanitation problem or not.  I was a bit surprised to read that at least some folks are setting up for long term stays in the Laughlin parking lots.  That's a situation that is ripe for abuse.