Anti-RV "No Overnight Parking" bill in Maine Legislature

[Jack & Donna Smith]

There are many sides to the argument. As we have a grandchild in Billings, we
are familiar with the new ordinance. It states that there is a limit of 10
hours that a RV can be parked in an area such as WalMart. This came about
because some would consider WalMart a Campground, with the awning out, chairs
set up, and perhaps a BBQ going. Personally, We consider the WalMart
Overnighting just that. Pull in, Park, grab a bite to eat, Sleep, and leave in
the early AM..
.
At home, in Lake Forest, Kingdom of Arnold, they have passed an ordinance
limiting any Rv parked on the street to 72 hours, and then they may be cited..
Curious, because the State Vehicle Code says that ANY vehicle may not be parked
on any public street for more than 72 hours.....
The Official Mentality seems to be "If a Law Is Not Obeyed", then pass ANOTHER
law! (Why not enforce the law that is on the books?)
Jack Smith
1973FC31
SoCal


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Leroy Eckert wrote:
>
> I am always quite amused at bureaucrats that do not own anything to have fun
with, except a paid provider of services at taxpayers expense. The laundry list
of shortcomings are certainly understood. What always gets me is the fine. $100.
In this day of budgeting with computer metrix one would think the powers to be
could figure out how to structure a law that would be profitable. Who cares in
Maine or N. Georgia anyway. I could shoot a 30-30 down the road where I live
anytime of the day and it would not hit anyone. Maybe a tree. Apparently the
legislator that crafted the bill has to much time on his or her hands to take on
real problems in this County and/or incompetence is showing. Vote them out. Send
them to the Lobster Boat. On top of that I am confused. In most places a public
place does not include private business. Is the definition different in Maine?
> Perhaps those sorry RV folks are robbing Lobster.
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
> Dahlonega, GA
> Royale Conversion
>
> --- On Thu, 5/7/09, jamesobriant wrote:
>
> From: jamesobriant
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Anti-RV "No Overnight Parking" bill in Maine
Legislature
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 4:26 PM
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> I just sent the following information to my OvernightRVParking Yahoo
Group, and asked that they post it on any other RV-related discussion groups.
Here's the current status of the bill, and some people to contact about it:
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> ============ ========= =
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> The State of Maine is currently considering legislation which would make it
illegal for RVs to park overnight in "any public parking structure" (i.e.,
business parking lots) anyplace in the state of Maine. If this bill (HP 98, LD
114) passes, it would be illegal for RVers to park for the night and sleep in
their RVs at any business other than "a mobile home park or recreational vehicle
park allowed by a municipality or a camping area licensed by the department."
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> The penalty for violating this proposed law would be $100, which would be
suspended upon first violation. It's the RVer who would be fined, not the
business.
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> Shortcomings in the law include:
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> (1) No need for self-contained RV's to use or pay for many campground
amenities when all that's needed is a night's sleep.
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> (2) Language of the bill would make it illegal for RVers to park overnight at
truck stops.
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> (3) No provision for where RVers would stay from late fall through early
spring, when nearly all Maine campgrounds are closed for the season.
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> (4) No provision requiring campgrounds to be open to check RVers in at any
time of day or night when they might arrive.
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> (5) No provision requiring campgrounds to offer facilities to accommodate any
kind of RV, including spaces to accommodate the largest rigs, or for campgrounds
to provide and maintain access roads with sufficient weight-bearing capacity and
adequate clearances.
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> (6) No forethought as to what impact there will be on the Maine tourist
economy if RVers elect to avoid visiting, passing through or spending money in
Maine, as they did in Billings, MT, Laughlin, NV and Reno, NV when those cities
attempted to enact or enforce similar bans on a local basis.
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> (7) The general principle of forcing member of the public (RVers) to patronize
businesses (campgrounds) that they may not want to patronize.
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> (8) Some of the legislative material also mentions the issue of waste
disposal, the usual "red herring" that campground owners throw out when
pressuring for this kind of law. The law would punish all RVers for the
transgressions of the very few who dump tanks where they shouldn't, an action
that is already illegal, and only requires enforcement to prevent it.
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> This bill is currently tabled in the Maine House of Representatives. I has yet
to be passed by either the Maine House or the Maine Senate. I've been able to
find no indication of the likelihood of its being passed, but when I telephoned
the legislative offices to find out the bill's status, the clerk who took my
call was unaware of the bill, then read it, and thought it was stupid.
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> Here is a link to the text of the bill:
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> http://www.maineleg islature. org/legis/ bills/bills_ 124th/billpdfs/ H
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> P009802.pdf
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> (Yahoo or your email program will probably spit that link, so you'll have to
piece it back together in the address bar of your
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> browser.)
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> The sponsor of the bill is Rep. Anne C. Perry, Democrat from Calais, ME. Here
is her contact information, as taken from the Maine Legislature Website:
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> Address: 474 South Street, Calais, ME 04619 Home Telephone: (207) 454-7338
Cell Phone: (207) 214-7000 Home E-Mail: aperry@maineline. net State House
E-Mail: RepAnne.Perry@ legislature. maine.gov
>
> Legislative Web Site: http://www.maine.gov/ legis/housedems/ aperry
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> (Additional information, news, etc.,
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> from the House Majority Office)
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> State House Message Phone: (800) 423-2900 State House TTY Line: (207) 287-4469
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> Representing: District 31 - Baileyville, Baring, Calais, Charlotte,
Passamaquoddy Indian Township, Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point, Perry and
Robbinston, plus part of the unorganized territory of North Washington
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> Committee: Health and Human Services (Chair) Party Affiliation: Democrat Legal
Residence: Calais Seat in House Chamber: 68
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> Occupation: Nurse Practitioner
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> Family: 3 Children, 2 Grandchildren
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> ===========
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> The House Majority Leader in the Maine Legislature is John F.
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> Piotti, a Democrat from Unity, ME. Here is his contact information, as taken
from the Maine Legislature Website:
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> Address: 1075 Albion Road, Unity, ME 04988 Home Telephone: (207) 437-2493
Business Telephone: (207) 287-1430 Home E-Mail: piotti@uninets. net State House
E-Mail: RepJohn.Piotti@ legislature. maine.gov
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> Legislative Web Site: http://www.maine.gov/ legis/housedems/ jpiotti
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> (Additional information, news, etc.,
>
> from the House Majority Office)
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> State House Message Phone: (800) 423-2900 State House TTY Line: (207) 287-4469
>
> Representing: District 45 - Burnham, Freedom, Knox, Montville, Palermo,
Thorndike, Troy and Unity
>
> Committee: Rules and Business of the House Party Affiliation: Democrat Legal
Residence: Unity Seat in House Chamber: 1
>
> Occupation: Executive Director of State-Wide Non-Profit
>
> Family: Susan (Wife), 2 Children
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> ============ =====
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> Here are two more contacts in Maine:
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> Governor John Baldacci
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> Communicate your comments to the Governor:
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> http://www.maine. gov/governor/ baldacci/ contact/citizen_ services/ sh
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> are_views.html
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> (Yahoo or your email program will probably spit that link, so you'll have to
piece it back together in the address bar of your
>
> browser.)
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> Or go to:
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> http://www.maine. gov/governor/ baldacci/ index.shtml
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> Then scroll down to "Citizen Services" and click the [Share your views] link.
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> Other contact information:
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> Mailing Address
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> Office of the Governor
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> #1 State House Station
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> Augusta, ME 04333-0001
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> Phone
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> 207-287-3531
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> 207-287-6548 (TTY)
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> Fax
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> 207-287-1034
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> ============
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> The President of the Main Chamber of Commerce is Mr. Dana Connors (that's MR.
Connors, not MS.), and his email address is:
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> dana.f.connors@ mainechamber. org
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> Because Yahoo truncates email addresses, this may be useful:
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> dana.f.connors (at) mainechamber (dot) org
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> ============ =
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> Jim O'Briant
>
> Gilroy, CA
>
> Administrator, http://www.OvernightRVPark ing.com
>