Penalty for sleeping overnight?

The illegality of sleeping in a motor vehicle refers to being under influence (drugs or alcohol ) it is the fact that you might drive a car in that state and they will investigate why you are there. Motorhomes are locked shuttered and private for any activity you might wish to partake of that make it private space that is not open to view or interfere with. Sex in a car is not private, but Dogging, in a closed motorhome it is in private.
 
GWAYGWAY said:
The illegality of sleeping in a motor vehicle refers to being under influence (drugs or alcohol ) it is the fact that you might drive a car in that state and they will investigate why you are there. Motorhomes are locked shuttered and private for any activity you might wish to partake of that make it private space that is not open to view or interfere with. Sex in a car is not private, but Dogging, in a closed motorhome it is in private.
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Wheres the fun in that :devil:(y)
 
I've just checked out campercontact..
I've got to say, it would not get any use from me, simply, very few stop overs are listed, at least with the other apps choice is plentiful.
 
smartgolfer said:
I've just checked out campercontact..
I've got to say, it would not get any use from me, simply, very few stop overs are listed, at least with the other apps choice is plentiful.
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Only 33,267 on Campercontact

I can totally understand how that may not be enough for you, thought it appears to be adequately sufficient for the thousands of motorhome owners who use and trust it every day.

On the other hand, users of Search For Sites had all their personal data stolen when the site was hacked a while back.
 
quite honestly I just recently have been finding google maps set to satellite then zooming in on the area you want shows up many land owners allowing overnight camping given away by vans on site at the time the sat image was taken making it fairly east to contact the owners
 
Vickysponge said:
We once were parking up, in a pub stop car park in Derbyshire. It wasn't an easy park and a guy game over, we thought he was going to offer some help but no! He was very rude and told us we should be on a caravan site, like him in his caravan. He went on to tell us that sleeping overnight in the motorhome anywhere but a caravan site, was illegal.

Where do these ideas come from?
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The typical British busybody mentality. Somebody is getting away with doing something without paying.....
 
smartgolfer said:
I used a car park in Scotland very close to a beach not far from Culzean Castle, check searchforsites the reviews, the idiot local caravan site owner is a regular perpetrator of BS.

Yes we stayed, sure enough he turned up, cant park here etc, its private land etc.

I told him, i have children onboard and they are frightend of him, and the way he was looking in the motorhome or trying to, i suggested that his behaviour is worrying enough to report to the Police on 101.

He left immediately.

Having said that, if you are ever in Girvan, everyone is welcome to stay for free at the Harbour, again, check searchforsites, there is a cracking chippy close by and the locals are friendly, just use a few shops, they appreciate it;)
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Thanks for that reference that’s the first site saved in my scotland

typically I use all three apps for sites , look for the most recent reviews and save them to my own list in google maps - easier to stop to stop navigating
 
RobWid said:
Its also interesting how different different LA’s are.

Dorset seem to be welcoming, for instance offering free overnight Motorhome parking in Weymouth at the old ferry port amongst others. No height or size restrictions, no fee and front spots by the waters edge.

I can’t say I’ve ever asked if it’s ok to sleep there ... just put up the blinds and black out curtains at the front and quietly sleep...never a problem.
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We were thinking of going to a Blues festival in Weymouth early Oct. Had been recommended a couple of caravan sites (slightly out of town) by the local tourist info who never mentioned the old ferry port.

Is the old ferry port a very big car park ?

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Oldbob said:
Indeed, it is legal for truck drivers to park and sleep if legal and the vehicle is equipped with proper sleeping accomadation, is a bed.
So on that score then unless a sign says specifically no overnight stays or similar then there is no problem.
In all my years of parking overnight in a lot of places and countries the only time I was woken by plod was in Hull, just to tell me to move or put parking lights on. I clicked side lights on and they left, when a commercial vehicle is parked overnight on a lit street, or in this case a layby then it should be lit.
I assume that having your mh registered as private hgv then this would apply.
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Its not specifically a HGV thing but is down to the weight of the vehicle.
Unfortunately, time in this instance has removed the previously hard wired information from my cerebral interface.
ie. Ive got too much to remember from yesterday and I've forgotten the stuff from a time when weights of vehicles was important.
 
I may have misunderstood the legality issue.
Thank you all for your comments.
However I think what I was thinking about was was it worth any formal penalty to wild camp anyway knowing what that would be and also reasoning that enforcement is not very likely.
This does not mean I would view it as a license to do it in inappropriate places etc.
When I wild park/sleep I try to do it as innocuously and politely as possible and do not overstay.

The Esplanade in Southsea is a favourite place.
 
I've not been on a site in 15 years , always wild park , I've been asked to move 3 times , once in portugal twice in spain , never been asked to move in scotland....had a few busy bodies who were told to sod off... and only really parked 2 or 3 weeks overall in england and again never asked to move.

I use park4night all the time , it's never failed to get me a spot
 
Sandancers said:
We were thinking of going to a Blues festival in Weymouth early Oct. Had been recommended a couple of caravan sites (slightly out of town) by the local tourist info who never mentioned the old ferry port.

Is the old ferry port a very big car park ?
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According to Just Park web site no overnight at Weymouth port
 
on the question of parking/sleeping just use my line to anyone that questions you
"ive had two viagra mate there will be no sleeping in here tonight" probably best if you have a women with you

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smartgolfer said:
I've just checked out campercontact..
I've got to say, it would not get any use from me, simply, very few stop overs are listed, at least with the other apps choice is plentiful.
Click to expand...

Did you try the free version or the paid for version? the free one doesn't show as many locations as the paid for one, there are currently 1602 sites showing for the UK. You can also look at the website which is free and has the full list of sites available.

Campercontact | All the best motorhome sites at your fingertips

All motorhome sites worldwide on one platform for motorhomers. Includes up-to-date reviews, photos and an overview of beautiful motorhome stopovers.
www.campercontact.com www.campercontact.com
 
Sandancers said:
We were thinking of going to a Blues festival in Weymouth early Oct. Had been recommended a couple of caravan sites (slightly out of town) by the local tourist info who never mentioned the old ferry port.

Is the old ferry port a very big car park ?
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Hi Yes - big bit the motorhome bays are to one side by the sea wall so uninterrupted views. I last stopped over just before Christmas and free from 6pm to 8pm for motorhomes. If you wish to stay longer just pay for the day part. No idea of the limitation around number of days - I just stay overnight.

Whenever I’ve visited it’s been busy and all motorhome bays full for the night. Everyone seems to sleep in their and I’ve never been questioned but those who pop by to check tickets.

Only a short walk into the town with lists of places to eat and drink.
 
romany said:
According to Just Park web site no overnight at Weymouth port
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I use it regularly and free for motorhomes 6.00pm
to 08:00. You do need to pick up a ticket still even though free.And just pay day rate if you want to stay longer. Full of vans most nights I’ve been there. No idea if you are formally allowed to sleep overnight but I’ve never been challenged by those checking tickets. Pleasant spot and great access to the town.
 
Silver-Fox said:
What if you sleep in the buff though ??
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dont open the door if there is a knock now that could be illegal

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mitzimad said:
on the question of parking/sleeping just use my line to anyone that questions you
"ive had two viagra mate there will be no sleeping in here tonight" probably best if you have a women with you
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Think the excuse would work just as well even if you didn't ::bigsmile:::bigsmile:::bigsmile:::bigsmile:
 
I have free parked most of my motorhoming time camper-van time all over the uk and Europe it has Ben destroyed sumwhat over the years by manly forums Facebook and the likes only far to-many bull sxxxt post that start roomers and crap
only ever Ben moved once in 30 years and i never revel my parking spot's
bill
 
RobWid said:
Hi Yes - big bit the motorhome bays are to one side by the sea wall so uninterrupted views. I last stopped over just before Christmas and free from 6pm to 8pm for motorhomes. If you wish to stay longer just pay for the day part. No idea of the limitation around number of days - I just stay overnight.

Whenever I’ve visited it’s been busy and all motorhome bays full for the night. Everyone seems to sleep in their and I’ve never been questioned but those who pop by to check tickets.

Only a short walk into the town with lists of places to eat and drink.
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Interesting Rob been tempted many times but have never checked to see if there are any prohibition signs up, I have just checked the web site which states no overnight but if there are no signs up at the actual car park you can always plead ignorance to their web site;)

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mitzimad said:
probably best if you have a women with you
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That, in todays P-C World Could earn you a slap on the wristy, from the P-C police, or even suggestion of Homophobic behaviour. After all we are supposed to be "inclusive". (BTW. I note you did say women (plural)? Not sharing then?);)
 
Had a Look at the Place on Google Maps. 6 Dedicated spaces. The signage is too indistinct to tell if there is actually any warning about "Sleeping" . We loved Weymouth when we used to live at Yeovil, back in the 80`s, as it was part of my "Patch". The Kings Arms on the Quay, used to do excellent fresh fish dishes. Rallied a few times at the School with the Dorset CC Centre. The Brewery is closed though:cry::cry:
 
PeteH said:
Had a Look at the Place on Google Maps. 6 Dedicated spaces. The signage is too indistinct to tell if there is actually any warning about "Sleeping" . We loved Weymouth when we used to live at Yeovil, back in the 80`s, as it was part of my "Patch". The Kings Arms on the Quay, used to do excellent fresh fish dishes. Rallied a few times at the School with the Dorset CC Centre. The Brewery is closed though:cry::cry:
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Is that the micro brewery thats closed loved their beers
 
That would be Jurassic ?. Still going as far as I know?. I saw the last days of the Old Hope Brewery. Which I think became a shopping outlet?. The Old Steam Boiler in there was installed before WW1!.
 
Robert Clark said:
Never really liked Search For Sites

Full of scraped (stolen) data. The owner used to be a member here but got banned

Much prefer Camper Contact
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I much prefer it as clearer mapping and all in English, CC is OK but not IMHO as good.

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