Are homeless RV campers ruining it for all RVers?
By Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

In Longview, Wash., the city council is working on an ordinance to remove homeless people in RVs who camp on city streets. According to the article at The Daily News Online, "Longview police put on a slide show of battered RVs parked around town. One photo showed an RV's sewer pipe leaking waste onto the street. There was a picture of an RV with a wood stove inside for heat. Other photos showed make-shift campsites in city alleys and homeless people's belongings heaped around trees downtown."

While realizing the homeless have few options, the situation described by the police is not desirable nor safe. More people are camping in tents or RVs within the city limits. The council has a proposed ordinance under consideration.

According to The Daily News Online, "Under the proposed ordinance, camping in parks, streets, sidewalks, parking lots or publicly or privately owned areas would be prohibited. Their "camping equipment" and belongings could be confiscated. Illegal campers would be warned once and then be cited with a misdemeanor for subsequent violations, which carry a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail. Someone who's cited three times within a year for living in an RV could have his RV immediately impounded."

As it is worded here, an RVer visiting a family member and parked in front of their house could be warned, then cited. While the council says that is not the intent, it sounds like it could happen. And it would make camping overnight in a Wal-Mart parking lot or similar lot illegal even if it was for only one night.

You can hardly blame Longview, though, for wanting to do something to control this mess. However, RVers could be caught in the backlash. In fact, it is often junky RVs parked on streets or in driveways or people abusing the privilege of camping at Wal-Mart (pictured) who cause citizens and RV park owners to push for ordinances. There are no easy answers.

In the meantime, when you visit a town, whether it's for a stay with a relative or overnight in a parking lot, be a good guest. Follow the boondocking etiquette guidelines so you don't give cities an excuse to pass ordinances that can affect our ability to visit there.

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak is the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle. This article is from her website RVlifestyles.com.

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