Nevada Senate Bill Restricts RV Parking
4/4/05
This bill was introduced in the committee on government affairs and, if passed, would prohibit RV parking on any type of public parking lot anywhere in the state. Here is some of the text of the bill:
"Each board of county commissioners shall, by ordinance, prohibit an attended vehicle, recreational vehicle, motor home or travel trailer from parking overnight in a parking facility which is dedicated or intended for commercial use or for use by patrons of a shop, store or other business.
"Parking facility" means a parking deck, parking garage, parking structure or paved or unpaved parking lot that members of the public regularly enter, are reasonably likely to enter, or are invited or permitted to enter as invitees or licensees. The term does not include a recreational vehicle park as defined in NRS 108.2678."
Due to the way this is worded, it is likely that these restrictions will apply to any publicly accessible parking lot. This could include casinos, truck stops, and even dirt or gravel boondock parking areas throughout the state.
This is not the first time that RVers have been faced with such a challenge on a state level. Several years ago, similar legislation was introduced in the State of Montana. Due to the protests from RVers all over the country, that attempt to regulate RV parking failed. It appears that we now face a similar challenge in Nevada. If this legislation passes, it may well set a precedent for the rest of the country, and we could see our freedom to choose where we park permanently revoked! All RVers
and concerned individuals need to take immediate steps to contact the members of the Senate Government Affairs Committee as soon as possible and voice their opinions. Great haste is needed as the bill (SB-412) will be up for testimony in committee on April 6, 2005. Please make use of the contact list included below and write, call, or email right away!
Please remember that a calm, logical approach will make your letter or email much more likely to be read and considered. Here are a couple of sample paragraphs to aid you in writing your letter or email.
While RV parks are the best accommodations for RVers, sometimes commercial parks are full, or perhaps the RVer simply cannot find a local park, especially if it is late in the evening. Other issues come into play as well. For instance, how tired is the RV driver? Were it not for Wal-Mart and other similar locations that offer a resting place to RVers, you would see an increased accident rate. Far too often, RVers will drive too long, too late, or continue searching for an RV park way past their safety and comfort zone. Knowing that they are welcome to pull into a parking lot and get a few hours of rest anytime of the day or night is an enormous safety net for the traveler.
Typically, RVers make significant contributions financially to places that welcome them and, many times, will return to an area for an
extended stay if they have been received in a friendly manner. Unfortunately, signs banning RVs from parking areas do not appear very friendly to the tired traveler who is just looking for a spot to rest. Please do not
implement legislation that will send the RVing public away from your state, but rather welcome them with open arms and show them you care about their safety and respect their lifestyle.
Please take a moment to contact these Nevada legislators and let them know how you feel!
WARREN B. HARDY II
Chairman, Government Affairs Committee
6536 Blue Sapphire Court
Las Vegas, NV 89110-4049
702-227-0536
SANDRA J. TIFFANY
Vice-Chairman, Government Affairs Committee
61 Tanglewood Drive
Henderson, NV 89012-2117
702-451-7301
WILLIAM J. RAGGIO
P.O. Box 281
Reno, NV 89504-0281
775-786-5000
RANDOLPH J. TOWNSEND
P.O. Box 20923
Reno, NV 89515-0923
775-954-2020
ALICE COSTANDINA (DINA) TITUS
1637 Travois Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89119-6283
702-895-3756
TERRY JOHN CARE
4371 Woodcrest Road
Las Vegas, NV 89121-4946
702-388-0098
JOHN JAY LEE
1340 Borderwood Lane
North Las Vegas, NV 89031-1816
702-647-3550
See below for all address for cut-and-paste to email
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob (Retirement-Tips.com) [mailto:rjhoffman@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 2:00 PM
To: Hardy, Warren Senator; Tiffany, Sandra Senator; Raggio, William Senator; Townsend, Randolph Senator; Titus, Dina Senator; Care, Terry Senator; Lee, Senator John
Subject: Nevada Senate Bill SB-412
I don't live in Nevada, but I visit often. I enjoy RVing and casinos. I especially enjoy being able to park at a casino and gamble when I want to and as long as I want to, then return to my RV for occasional periods of rest. If SB-412 does what it's rumored to do and I can no longer park in casino parking lots in Nevada, there are 24 other states where I can!
Robert Hoffman
1033 Jacaranda Circle
Rockledge, FL 32955
Bob Hoffman, webmaster of:
-------------------------------------------------------------- REPLY ----------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 14:12:07 -0700
From: "Hardy, Warren Senator" <WHardy@sen.state.nv.us>
To: "Bob (Retirement-Tips.com)" <rjhoffman@yahoo.com>
Thank you for contacting me regarding Senate Bill 412 which restricts overnight parking a certain locations. I have scheduled a hearing on the bill and will listen carefully to all of the testimony. Having said that however, I have serious concerns about the concept from a couple of perspectives. First, I am not sure it is good public policy. More importantly I do not believe that this issue properly belongs in the state legislature's jurisdiction.
I philosophically believe that these kinds of public policy decisions more appropriately reside at the local level. Therefore, unless some compelling public policy reason surfaces at the hearing that overcomes these concerns, I do not plan to support this legislation.
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns.
Regards,
Warren B. Hardy II
Nevada State Senator
District 12
Subject: SB 412
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 15:25:28 -0700
From: "Raggio, William Senator" <wraggio@sen.state.nv.us>
To: rjhoffman@yahoo.com
April 16, 2005
Bob Hoffman
rjhoffman@yahoo.com
Thank you for your e-mail voicing your opposition to Senate Bill 412. As you know, that bill would require cities and counties to adopt ordinances prohibiting overnight parking of occupied travel trailers or recreational vehicles in parking facilities or parking lots.
Senate Bill 412 was heard by the Senate Committee on Government Affairs on April 6, 2005. and April 8, 2005; no action was taken. Since the deadline for committee action on this bill has passed, it will not be given any further consideration.
I appreciate you taking the time to write to me on this issue.
Sincerely,
William J. Raggio
Senate Majority Leader
