West Illegal Camping in Kent, Washington

[56 Spartan]

I recently went to Kent, Washington. I parked legally, and went to my trailer. Within an hour two Kent Police Officers were shining their flashlights in my rig, and knocking on the door. I am law abiding citizen, so I figured they must have noticed something wrong with my camper, (like a tire going flat.) When I opened the door, one of the officers said, "Do you know that I could arrest you right now!" I was shocked. I asked him what I had done, and he told me that he could arrest me for illegal camping. I told him that I was from Salem, Oregon and didn't know that it was illegal in Washington. I gave him my ID, and while he was checking it, I told him that I would leave, and I didn't mean to cause any problems. The officer then told me that it is a city ordinance, and the only legal place to camp is Naden Park. After giving me a warning, he instructed me on how to get there. When I arrived at Naden Park in Kent, Washington it was covered in litter. It has to be the only city park with out trash cans. There are no hook ups, but there is a dump station. (Naden park is free, but there are signs that say you can only stay for 24 hours.) 24 hours was way to long, there were different people coming and going at all hours from this run down fifth wheel next to me. I am no expert, but I believe they were selling drugs. When I went to leave, there is no turn around. You can drive around the block, but the other side is gravel and has huge potholes. Not fun when you are trying not to knock stuff over in your camper. I was still pretty rattled by the threat of arrest, so I went to a public library to look up the laws, and sure enough you really can be arrested or fined in Kent, Washington for going into your own RV, unless your in Naden Park.

[bobkelly]

Interesting story and a good heads up. It's not usual for suburban/urban communities to have restrictions on camping/parking RVs on public streets.

[dscluchfc]

Even more interesting that they are more interested in harrassing RV owners who are upstanding citizen types, while they ignore drug dealer vagrant types in the "designated camping area".

[pilgrim]

Glad Kent, WA isn't and won't be on my travel list. As many of us, I watch the Forums to see where to head for on our next outing. I guess I'd better start another book to keep a list of places to AVOID. Kent, WA is right up near the top of that one!!!

Nice post! Thank you.

[2airishuman]

hi 56'

interesting.

it's not clear from your post...

were you planning to boondock or overnight on a public street?

i don't think opening the door to your trailer or going inside is specifically the issue.

sleeping on the streets, parking lots or city parks is...

i doubt that even the walmarts in this region have 'campers'...

kent is 80-90,000 people and a HUGE industrial area...

while being buried in the the massive sea-tac/king county metro area.

i suspect most every metroplex city has a rule like this,

and especially along both coasts and major metro destinations.

it's not easy to find most of there ordinances online but kent's are easy...

City code Chapter 8.09 Camping - City of Kent, Washington

you could have easily stayed at the a/s land yacht harbor just a few miles south....

all airstreams and friendly folks.

the police probably did you a favor by saying 'move along'

i'd never consider overnighting in a metro city park.

even the ones with hookups and a gate are crime magnets.

cheers
2air'

doesn't salem have a similar code and guidelines for 'overnighting or camping' in city parks?

[moosetags]

Even though the Officers probably did you a favor telling you to move on. They shoild have told you that this was advisable becuase they were not competent enough to insure your safety. Their city fathers thought that such an ordinance was necessary to make up for lack of control within their city limits. This is a place not worth visiting.

Brian

[2airishuman]

too late 2 fix me spelin errors....

but here is the link to the lacey a/s villa...

Home Page

looks like they have plenty of space right now...

Land

cheers
2air'

[Lumatic]

Spartan,
What kind of area were you in? Residential, commercial, industrial. I wouldn't be too keen on the idea of someone camping outside my home. No matter what kind of area you were parked in if I were in your shoes I would not feel safe on the street. Sorry, but it sounds to me the local contabulary were just doing their jobs. Maybe tossed in the pokey would have been a bit extreme but it sounds to me you were lucky they didn't ticket you.

[Fyrzowt]

Sorry, but it sounds to me the local contabulary were just doing their jobs. Maybe tossed in the pokey would have been a bit extreme but it sounds to me you were lucky they didn't ticket you.

Maybe true, strictly speaking. But this is very poor police work in my view. It's been my experience that an officer with these kind of people skills (or lack thereof) either:
1. Won't be in his/her job much longer
2. Had an extremely bad day
3. Has a very lax administration

I would (will) avoid the town.

[davidz71]

If the officers had bothered to check your out of state plates, they would have know that you may have not been aware of the city ordinance. Poor police work on their part. A simple explanation without the "I have the power to run you in" mentality would have sufficed.

[Jim Clark]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Spartan,
Sorry, but it sounds to me the local contabulary were just doing their jobs. Maybe tossed in the pokey would have been a bit extreme but it sounds to me you were lucky they didn't ticket you.

Yes you are correct they were just doing their job, no less no more. You would think they would be polite to a citizen until they find out if it was an intentional violation and what the citizen’s attitude is. After all the citizen is paying their salary. I know you will say 56 Spartan is not a resident of Kent, but I am sure federal monies find their way in to the budget of the local department one way or the other so as a taxpayer he is funding part of their department; if not common courtesy should be practiced. I work with many federal officers and I can attest that they are polite and nice to the scum of the earth until the need arises to be otherwise. Kent is off my list of places to visit.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by Jim Clark

Kent is off my list of places to visit.

I wouldn't let a run in with Barney Fife make me miss a chance for a piece of Aunt Bea's apple pie

[Jim Clark]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

I wouldn't let a run in with Barney Fife make me miss a chance for a piece of Aunt Bea's apple pie

Good point, you are right.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Poor Kent, now no one wants to go there. Is there not a Kent in Ohio? In Ohio they do not like people taking a rest at rest areas too long. While in graduate school in Indiana, I often was forced to take a nap in Ohio while driving between Maryland and Indiana. I promise you as soon as you close your eyes a state trooper will be telling you to move it down the road...

[Jim Clark]

Ok, I won't go to Ohio either.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

...miss a chance for a piece of Aunt Bea's apple pie

or ohboyoberto sausage and jerky!

More History

or REI h/q ...

REI Headquarters Map

both have major operations in kent.

it's part of the seattle metroplex folks, on continuous domino of burbs

you wouldn't likely know you're even IN this city,

unless you needed public services,

like the police.

2air'

[jimmini]

Police may have done you a favor.Since thay have NO legal obligation to protect you.
Kent WA crime rate is quite a-bit above WA state average and in many crimes above national average.

You should alway's be aware of the areas where you go or camp and what is going on around you.Like what you saw in park they sent you to and you went.BE DO NOT look for trouble,but sure be ready for it if it finds YOU.It can find YOU any where any time.

[Stefrobrts]

South Sound is not the best part of the Seattle area. Tacoma/Lakewood are frequently features on 'COPS', which we always get a kick out of - aparently there's garenteed action for them to film, because they are there all the time We stopped at the Lakewood Mall once and took all of a couple minutes to realize we had wandered into the wrong neighborhood. If you feel like you may be the only one in the building who isn't armed, it's time to move on! This may contribute to the police attitude in the area.

But LYH is right there in Olympia, so if you're in an AS and looking for a place to sleep, that's the place to go. Further up the sound it gets trickier. We regularly do a Comic Book Show near downtown and stay in a hotel because there's no place for trailers within 20 miles.

The NW is a beautiful place with a zillon exciting camping opportunities, but the Seattle Mero area is NOT one of them. It is really big! The Portland Metro area would be better. You could stay out by us at Battle Ground Lake and be close enough to spend a day exploring Portland. Much smaller city, and in my opinion, much safer.

[56 Spartan]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

hi 56'

interesting.

it's not clear from your post...

were you planning to boondock or overnight on a public street?

i don't think opening the door to your trailer or going inside is specifically the issue.

sleeping on the streets, parking lots or city parks is...

i doubt that even the walmarts in this region have 'campers'...

kent is 80-90,000 people and a HUGE industrial area...

while being buried in the the massive sea-tac/king county metro area.

i suspect most every metroplex city has a rule like this,

and especially along both coasts and major metro destinations.

it's not easy to find most of there ordinances online but kent's are easy...

City code Chapter 8.09 Camping - City of Kent, Washington

you could have easily stayed at the a/s land yacht harbor just a few miles south....

all airstreams and friendly folks.

the police probably did you a favor by saying 'move along'

i'd never consider overnighting in a metro city park.

even the ones with hookups and a gate are crime magnets.

cheers
2air'

doesn't salem have a similar code and guidelines for 'overnighting or camping' in city parks?

I don't believe Salem has such an ordinance. When I was a full timer, I often stayed in Salem and never had a problem.

Also, my work forces me all over the place, so I often bring my own sleeping quarters, and find quite places parked on public streets. Usually around the corner of commercial businesses that are closed for the night, and I'm gone before they open their doors. I don't bring anything outside, and I don't hang out outside. I just mind my own business. I travel from Eugene, Oregon all the way to Seattle, and this is the first time I have ever been asked to move along by anyone. I am very curtious to my temporary neighbors, and most of the time they don't even notice that I was there.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by 56 Spartan

... so I often bring my own sleeping quarters, and find quite places parked on public streets. Usually around the corner of commercial businesses that are closed for the night, and I'm gone before they open their doors...

yeah 56' been there and done that.

but it was 20 years ago.

a quick saturday nite in a vacant bank lot,

or tuesday at the church or friday night in a 'light industrial zone'

or a summer night near a closed public school...

but parking/sleeping on urban public streets NOW is widely regulated and enforced...

if you are still doing this and NOT getting a 3 am door tap from police, they are just missing u.

check those salem city ordinances again....

fire/police/emt access cannot be blocked,

lp fired stoves cannot be used in or near many public places, any effluent discharge is forbidden, and on and on...

besides 'salem proper' isn't the safest place anymore either.

folks just stopping on a side street for midnight nap in cars, trucks, rvs and so on...

are not the 'criminals' ...they are targets for crime.

this is one of the MANY reasons (right or wrong) that folks stay at wally world...

or with the truckers in a pilot diesel stop.

and now, almost every public parking lot in urban zones prohibits overnight parking.

i realize you didn't knowingly do anything wrong,

but 'pulling around the corner, behind the building' is an old wally dream in the current urban world.

cheers
2air'