if so, what about during the day when the stores are open? I can understand maybe if the stores are closed. I can also understand if the car is uninsured. but a legit car during the day, could I get arrested for this?
2007-06-29 22:08:40 · 11 answers · asked by smokesha 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
There is no law prohibiting someone to sleep in a car while in a parking lot.
2007-06-29 22:12:11 · answer #1 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
It the US, there is an extremely vague 'loitering' law. It vague on purpose, because sometimes the officer is in a better position to tell whether a person is soliciting drugs/prostitution/ whatever in whatever creative fashion they do it, without nec. following some set clearly defined by the lawbook sort of behavior. Unfortunately, this loitering law could, theoretically, spill over into many other purely harmless activities, such as sleeping in your car which is not illegally parked or whatever. It will basically depend what mood the officer is in who happens to find you and how suspicious you appear. A policeman can, of course, arrest you and make you spend a few hours in a holding cell, if things are particularly unfortunate for you, but it would be inconceivable that you would actually be charged with anything.
You have to understand that parking lots are just about #1 on danger spots for felony crimes. I definately wouldnt try doing this is some mall parking lot or whatever, to any cop you look like some guy who is perhaps stalking the employee of some shop or something.
2007-06-29 22:43:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most larger city's have laws against "Urban Camping". And even if you're in a town with laws against it, cops will search you then kick you out for loitering or vagrancy or whatever they feel like making up at the time.
I've been kicked out of parking lots many, many times but never during the day. I'm sure the laws apply no matter what time of day but no one notices during the day.
My advice is to find a 24/7 Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or Target to sleep at. I lived out of my car in front of a K-Mart for a month or so and none ever said anything. No matter what the situation, you have very little chance of being arrested if you're clean and the car is legal. They just don't arrest you for things like this. It's private property and it's really upto the store or owner to tell you to go or not.
2007-06-29 22:16:23 · answer #3 · answered by Octal040 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hmm... actually I think the parking lot of a particular business is considered private property owned by that business, and the owner could request that you leave. Public rest areas (like along a freeway) or government building parking lots or public parks would be a different scenario. Some local ordinances may apply in those cases, though, as well.
2007-06-29 22:19:46 · answer #4 · answered by MidwestWally 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just do what my brother and his girlfriend did. They would park inside a hospital parking lot...they had a 24hr emergency room. There's always cars parked in the lot and people coming and going. What's more there's a bathroom inside the waiting room and a telephone that you can use to make local calls!!
'
2007-06-30 05:57:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just to let you know. In VA a guy said he went to a mental institution just because he got caught living in his car. I don't know all of the circumstances. However, I honestly don't know all of the circumstances. I do know. They would not let him out until he found a place to stay.
2007-06-29 23:28:59 · answer #6 · answered by Ann S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with # 2 and # 1(In that order)
2007-06-29 22:13:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Arrested, probably not, but I think it would be considered loitering. :S
2007-06-29 22:17:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's trespassing if the parking lot owner doesn't want you there
2007-06-29 22:43:53 · answer #9 · answered by bdbbdb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah i agree with #3
2007-06-29 22:34:09 · answer #10 · answered by Maxine 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋