First of all, I am a dyed in the wool boondocker.  I would rather stay on a
dirt road off a main highway than in some schmancy campground.

Second, this is private property we are talking about.  And even if that
private property is commercial, they are bound by the zoning regulations of
the community of residents around that property.

It's not like we should be able to just pull into any old driveway or
parking lot and drop the jacks.

Steve

This whole effort, for the most part, tends be a phenomena
characteristic of tiny inbred communities, where the good-ole-boys run
things, and are only in politics to look after one another. :-(

While it's much less of an issue with larger urban communities; you
mention state-wide prohibitions. I am not aware of ANY state that has
instituted such state-wide regulations; although it has now become a de
facto standard in Alaska. While not subject state mandate, virtually
EVERY commercial parking lot in Alaska is now blanketed with "No RV
Overnight Parking" signs.

In Canada, other than in the Province of Nova Scotia (speaking of tiny
inbred communities) shopping mall boondocking is not only tolerated, but
in  many areas, but vigorously pursued.

Not sure what the Province of Nova Scotia had in mind when they invoked
province-wide laws prohibiting recreational vehicles from being parked
overnight ANYWHERE within the Province, other than in a licenced
campground. So if yer motorhome breaks down on the highway, under Nova
Scotia law, it cannot be towed to a repair facility that cannot repair
it before the province-wide evening curfew on recreational vehicles  . .
it must be towed to a campground. Duh!

So . . how does this all effect the economy of a Province where it's
considered manly for "men" shave their legs and wear skirts; not to
mention their latest tourist attraction: Homosexual Marriages?

While homos might receive an unimpeded big-band welcome at the
cruise-ship docks from the guys who wear dresses and do blow-jobs on
bagpipes; Rvers are not really welcome in the Province of Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia practice of herding all RVers within the Province into
their typical trailer-trash parking ghettos before nightfall, is
reminiscent of the medieval practice of herding Jewish Scum into the
ghettos before nightfall (compliments of the Roman Catholic Church).

So, how has this entire anti-RV endeavour worked out for the Province of
Nova Scotia? According to official Nova Scotia stats:

During the first year, 2003, when the Province of Nova Scotia first
started to rattle their anti-RV sabres, RV traffic within the Province
was down by 13%!!

The second year, 2004, was rewarded by an additional 10% decline in RV
tourism.

And now in 2005, as the word spreads throughout the RVing community, the
the one place to be avoided within Canada is Nova Scotia.

So after announcing their anti-RV stance, and experiencing a predictable
13% decline in RV tourism  in 2003; and and additional 10% decline in
2004.

In 2005, Nova Scotia has managed to convince RVers, that Nova Scotia
should top their list of places to avoid at all cost!

After not learning a lesson from the 13% decline in RV tourism in 2003;
followed by a further 10% drop in 2004; and yet a further 31% decline in
2005!

You're singing my song, Mike! I've wrangled over this subject many times
when dealing with those trailer snobs on such protected turf as RV.net, etc.
who seem to think it's a good thing to force people into RV parks. What a
crock that idea is!

The prime example is Wal-Mart and Sam's open invitation to all RVers to
spend the night while enroute. It's ultimately up to the local manager to
decide, but the culture of Wal-Mart is to be RV friendly - and that's been
my experience all across the country.

Yet some communities come up with the nonsense, generally promoted by RV
parks, that those with RVs must not be permitted to accept Sam's invitation,
nor should Sam be permitted to extend his invitation. There is but one
over-riding interest at work here, and that is the RV parks.

There may be some places, such as a Wal-Mart next to Disneyland, or
something, where it likely would not be cool to plug the lot with a hundred
RVs. And maybe such ordinances in such situations make sense. But not in the
vast majority of places.

I have parked in Wal-Mart lots that were posted by the city as being no
parking. It's not Wal-Mart's idea and they won't enforce it. On the few
occasions that I have done it, I joined several other RVs already parked,
and no one got the boot. But it could happen. In which case I guess you
plead to stay 'til sunrise for safety sake. And I've heard that works well.
(And that's all most of us want.)

I'd suggest that what we can do about it is to be sure to stand against any
such local ordinance in our home towns. I'd sure be in front of my city
council pointing out that free people ought to be able to extend and accept
invitations that aren't hurting anyone else. And also that government has no
business insuring the success of the local RV park owners.

I simply don't draw the conclusion that "it's a to require that we fund
campgrounds." It's about keeping people from overnighting anywhere they
please. Period.

I've used Wal-Mart parking lots many times while trying to make it to
our ultimate destination as quickly as possible, and I would sure hate
to see this option taken away.  But, just maybe, this could simply be a
reaction against the small portion of the RV community who abuse this
privilege by setting up camp in the parking lot.

I don't know... just a thought.

I believe there is still a lot of prejudice against travel trailers and
probably to an equal degree against all RVers by local communities in
California.    This prejudice came about during the depression when many
people had to take to the road and park (camp) where they could (i.e.
"Grapes of Wrath").    Communities didn't like these "homeless" people in
their towns and passed ordinances restricting where trailers could be and
for how long and what you could and couldn't do while parked on a city
street.

In So. California, for example, the value of land is so high that overnight
camping is a poor economic use of that land.   Hence there are very few
public or private campgrounds in the more densly populated areas and those
that do exist resemble parking lots.     And my local Wal Mart has to
contend with the fact that it doesn't own  the property but leases it and
has to contend with the terms of the lease.    So there are signs in the
parking lot stating "no overnight parking".

We do need to press for more "rest areas" and other areas with overnight
parking available for RVers enroute and to enlighten our communities to the
need for public and private campgrounds.