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Maine Anti-RV Parking Law Pending
Yahoo Message Number: 102199
The following informations comes courtesy of Jim O'Briant who maintains one of the best web sites for overnight parking info.
============================= 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."

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.

Shortcomings in the law include:

(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.

(2) Language of the bill would make it illegal for RVers to park overnight at truck stops.

(3) No provision for where RVers would stay from late fall through early spring, when nearly all Maine campgrounds are closed for the season.

(4) No provision requiring campgrounds to be open to check RVers in at any time of day or night when they might arrive.

(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.

(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.

(7) The general principle of forcing member of the public (RVers) to patronize businesses (campgrounds) that they may not want to patronize.

(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.

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.

Here is a link to the text of the bill:

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billpdfs/H>http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billpdfs/H P009802.pdf

(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.)

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:

Address: 474 South Street, Calais, ME 04619 Home Telephone: (207) 454-7338 Cell Phone: (207) 214-7000 Home E-Mail:  State House E-Mail:  Legislative Web Site: www.maine.gov/legis/housedems/aperry (Additional information, news, etc., from the House Majority Office) State House Message Phone: (800) 423-2900 State House TTY Line: (207) 287-4469 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 Committee: Health and Human Services (Chair) Party Affiliation: Democrat Legal Residence: Calais Seat in House Chamber: 68 Occupation: Nurse Practitioner Family: 3 Children, 2 Grandchildren

===========

The House Majority Leader in the Maine Legislature is John F.
Piotti, a Democrat from Unity, ME. Here is his contact information, as taken from the Maine Legislature Website:

Address: 1075 Albion Road, Unity, ME 04988 Home Telephone: (207) 437-2493 Business Telephone: (207) 287-1430 Home E-Mail:  State House E-Mail:  Legislative Web Site: www.maine.gov/legis/housedems/jpiotti (Additional information, news, etc., from the House Majority Office) 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

=================

Here are two more contacts in Maine:

Governor John Baldacci

Communicate your comments to the Governor:

http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/contact/citizen_services/share_views.html

(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.)

Or go to:

http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/index.shtml>http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/index.shtml
 Then scroll down to "Citizen Services" and click the [Share your views] link.

Other contact information:

Mailing Address Office of the Governor #1 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0001 Phone 207-287-3531 207-287-6548 (TTY) Fax 207-287-1034

============

The President of the Main Chamber of Commerce is Mr. Dana Connors (that's MR. Connors, not MS), and his email address is:



Because Yahoo truncates email addresses, this may be useful:

dana.f.connors (at) mainechamber (dot) org

=============

Jim O'Briant Gilroy, CA Administrator, http://www. OvernightRVParking.com>http://www. OvernightRVParking.com Moderator, OvernightRVParking Yahoo Group
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/OvernightRVParking/>http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/OvernightRVParking/
Re: Maine Anti-RV Parking Law Pending
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102244
Quote
cyberskier_98  wrote:
 "The following informations comes courtesy of Jim O'Briant who maintains one of the best web sites for overnight parking info.
--- There is a current thread on this topic on the Escapees forum:
 http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=76529" 
Joan
http://rvtravel.com/mainervban.shtml  Here's a link to email contacts in Maine if you wish to let Maine officials know how you feel about this onerous bill. I did.  Personally, I rarely use public parking lots of any kind for overnighting; however, on principle I am very much against any sort of law that would ban short-term overnight parking when sanctioned by private businesses and property owners.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Maine Anti-RV Parking Law Pending
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102248
At the risk of saying "ditto", I'm with Chris.  Although I seldom park overnight in public lots, I am philosophically opposed to laws against the practice.  I made my feelings known (in a polite manner) to Maine legislators and tourist organizations.  I received only one reply, from the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland, saying, "The Maine Tourism Alliance and the Cumberland County Representative are looking into the proposal."

--Al in Bremerton --2002 26.5 MB
Re: Maine Anti-RV Parking Law Pending
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102249
Quote
At the risk of saying "ditto", I'm with Chris.  Although I seldom park overnight in public lots, I am philosophically opposed to laws against the practice.
I, for one, am more than philosophically opposed. Any state that passes such a law, I will strike off my visiting list, and will plan any travels through to avoid buying gas, meals, or anything else. Voting with your dollars is, in my opinion, the most effective resistance.
 When I go to a tourist area, I usually stay in a campground. For protracted stays, the amenities are (usually) worth the price. But when I am just traveling through, and all I want is a place to sleep, I will stay in the cheapest, or better, free, if possible, place I can. Any legislatures so out of touch with the necessity to conserve where you can, so you can spend where you want (ie, those of us on limited means), well, hell, they are politicians, what can you say.
 Bottom line, any state, city or other municipality that attempts to coerce me gets my back up, and I just mark them off my list.
 If enough of us vote with our dollars and refuse to patronize those who don't value us, eventually maybe they will get the point. If not, I still have the consolation of knowing that "they ain't getting any of MY money!"

But that's just me.

Lee
2000 TK
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT
Re: Maine Anti-RV Parking Law Pending
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102250
These are exactly the sentiments I expressed in the e-mail I sent to the Maine legislature and visitor's bureaus.

--Al in Bremerton --2002 26.5 MB
Re: Maine Anti-RV Parking Law Pending
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102252
I also sent several emails to various concerns about the proposed legislation. Since I am originally from Maine I have a special interest in opposing such anti-RV laws.
 I did spend last summer in Maine with our Lazy Daze visiting relatives and favorite places of years ago. Frankly I was disappointed with the quality of most commercial and state campgrounds,  narrow and poorly kept roads, and lack of RV facilities in general. I'm generalizing of course as there are a few very good campgrounds available at fairly steep prices.
 We stayed several nights in a LL Bean parking lot at no charge at their suggestion so we could take full advantage of the shopping facilities in Freeport. We spent another two weeks at Winslow Beach CG (city owned), which  has got to be one of the very best locations on the Maine coast with grand views of Casco Bay.
 I suggest that all LDers who would like to stop this legislation, contact the offices of LL Bean. They are very dependent on good will towards the state and the image of outdoor opportunities in Maine resulting in many of their fine products. They have incredible influence in the state.
 But truth be told, I doubt if my wife and I will ever RV in the northeast again. There is so much to see in the west where it is very RV friendly. The last 25 years in Oregon have spoiled us forever.

David (1998 MB LD) Eugene, OR
Re: Maine Anti-RV Parking Law Pending
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102253
the following was posted on rv.net in the Truck Camper section by poster monkey44: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/22735283/gotomsg/22739856.cfm#22739856

I sent a note to Anne Perry about this issue -- her response, in part includes:
 QUOTE: "It is not the intent of the bill to prohibit parking by RV or for a sleep or rest. The intent is to prohibit camping. However, if the wording overnight is too broad for judgement. One consideration would be to change this to a time limit like 12 hours, may be a consideration."
 That's quite different than prohibiting overnight parking completely. And as usual, according to her, some trash dumpers and set-ups have created a situation that could impact RV'ers that do use resting areas (and parking lots, sometimes)as a safety stop. Ms. Perry also stated that she has forwarded this URL to others in the position to impact this legistation -- so, maybe we all do have a voice, no matter how small it might be ...

sounds like they are taking notice of public opinion!

Jerry

2000 30 IB
Jerry Galang
Meridian, ID 83646
Re: Maine Anti-RV Parking Law Pending - boycotting Maine
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102255
We sent an email to the governor's office and said we won't be back and cancelled our summer plans for the northeast.  We are boycotting the state as a vacation destination and sent out emails to all of our friends to ask them to consider anywhere but Maine as a travel destination.  We refuse to reward stupidity with our travel money.  Maybe others will agree.

As mentioned by others - there are plenty of other places more than happy to have us roll in and stay a while.

H & Y