Walmart and Sams Club camping

rdam · Jan 2, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I must have misread it then. That or my memory is going, /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif it has been six months since I have been down there, but heading back down again in two weeks. )</font>

Your memory is good. There are several signs. At least one says "no overnight parking" and refers to Florida State Statute 501.xxx which deals with "Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices".

It's obviously not being enforced by WM or KPD.

If you "Camp" at WM or in that vicinity, let me know and I'll buy you a cup of coffee...1800-0530 hours.

rdam · Jan 2, 2004

Bird,

knowing the background on why a law was enacted is important. Sometimes laws are written with too many specifics which allows for loop holes. Some statutes however, are written with purposeful vagueness.

Florida's "Loitering and Prowling Statute" (FSS 856.021) comes to mind. "It is unlawful for any person to loiter or prowl in a place, at a time, in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals..."

This statute has passed constitutional muster...barely. But, used with care and discretion, it is a fantastic tool for fighting crime.

Disclaimer: I DID NOT WRITE THIS STATUTE !!!

DUMBDOG · Jan 2, 2004

No need to camp out there now, four years ago bought a house at Greater Groves, which is two miles north of 192 on 27. Rent it out to vacationers most of the year, go down and stay and work on it for a few months during the winter when it is cold up here in the north. Based on the tourist economy right now, it would have been a lot cheaper camping.

rdam · Jan 2, 2004

I'm familar with Greater Groves. We looked at some subdivisions in that area several years ago...It's growing fast as is all of Central Florida.

We cover out to 4 Corners (192 @ 27) Where Osceola, Orange, Polk and lake Counties meet.

Egon · Jan 4, 2004

Truck stop overnighting.

Egon

Bird · Jan 4, 2004

Egon, I've been there lots of times. If I parked in a quiet spot with other people around, no way I was going to run the generator on my RV, but if I stopped in a rest area like that with trucks sitting around with their engines running, then I could run my generator and A/C all night, too. Noises, except sudden loud ones, don't keep me from sleeping. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I remember one night in a crowded rest area, though, when another RV was also in the line with the trucks, and apparently someone in just a car was traveling with them and parked the car in the adjoining truck parking spot. That rest area was FULL! Then about 2 a.m., a truck came in, started into that spot, saw the car, and sat there blowing his air horn about every 10 seconds for about 10 minutes, obviously quite irate about that car taking that parking spot. He finally gave up, backed up, and went on down the road.

5030 · Jan 4, 2004

Egon:

There are some definite drawbacks to that scenario:
1. The smell from the truck exhaust will permeate your camper. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
2. Most "door slammers" can't back up very well so you run a big risk of getting backed into in the middle of the night. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
3. You might have to put up with the "lot lizards" beating on your door all night pandering their wares!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Number 3 could be a plus or negative depending on whether you are travelling alone or with the family. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

5030 · Jan 4, 2004

Bird:

I'd say the trucker was pretty gracious. The guy was probably out of hours, dead tired and needed a place to sleep. Most states will give you a ticket if you park on the side of an on or off ramp. Quite a few truck stops now charge an overnight fee for parking.

I think I'd have went back to the car and knocked on the hood or window with my tire "billy" to get their attention!!

OkeeDon · Jan 4, 2004

Several years ago, a tourist was killed while sleeping in his car at an Intersate rest area in North Florida, on I-10. Because the state would rather have sleepy drivers in the rest area than on the road, the state's response was to provide 24 hour security in the presence of a state trooper in every rest area. After a year or so with no further problems, this was eventually downgraded to night time security only, and then delegated to private security companies. To the best of my knoweldge, there have been no further problems.

The neat thing about this, however, is that the security guard also often serves as sort of an unofficial parking official (they get bored and want to to something). When they spot a car in one of the trucker's spots, they chase them around to the car parking area. It really is inconsiderate for a car to take one of thos spots, especially since a car will usually fit in the same slot with an RV, if the RV pulls all the way up. I've seen cases where two RVs will share a slot.

I'm the same as you about the generator; I won't run it if there's a chance of disturbing someone, or I'll run it only a short time for the microwave or such. Like you, the noise of the trucks doesn't really bother me or my wife. But, on our present coach, the generator is near our bed, and she really doesn't like it running - I think it's the vibration, more than the noise. I don't know, because it doesn't bother me. Our next coach will be a diesel pusher, so the noise of the engine will be at the other end when we're traveling, and the noise of the generator will be at the front end when we're sleeping in the back. Just makes more sense...