No overnight RV stays at Flying J in Ohio

[Blakers]

I stopped for fuel at Flying-J in Austinburg, Ohio yesterday. They have new signs posted, prohibiting overnight RV parking. I asked about it and they said the state of Ohio came up with a new law and they had to put up the signs and enforce them unless they wanted to be considered a campground.



I replied to them that it must apply to all vehicles, including semi trucks, and they said, "No, not to semi trucks. " I see a young lawyer having a field day with this one. How can they prohibit only certain types of vehicles from parking in their lot? I guess if you sleep in the cab of your truck you are ok.



Blake

 

[klenger]

How can they prohibit only certain types of vehicles from parking in their lot?

Becasue truckers have more money and a better lobby than RVers. I can't figure out why the truckers care. Does the new law apply to WallyMarting?

 

[clem]

Truckers are working and don't have any place to go. Also if you check ,Truckers use Truck Stops like Motels. It is hard to park a 18 wheeler at Ho Joe's or KOA. They also have to get off the road by law. Lets not mix apples with grapes or what ever. Just because we the RVers may want to park all night in Truck Stops and jump into our jamies for a long nights sleep. You maybe blocking a Trucker from laying over for a couple Hours. How many times have you pulled into a rest area for a quick bit,and find cars parked in the long slots,because it is closer to the grass and tables. You have to drive on because there is no room for your rig. Think about it!(No trucker here ) Today we seem to put our "I WANTS"

before what is good for all and reasonable. Just thinking Truckers don't dump there tanks on the ground. We bring these things on our selves

 

[PaulCreamer]

You maybe blocking a Trucker from laying over for a couple Hours.

Well Said Clem, Thank you.



I don't know if this situation is an attempt by f'en J to free up valuable parking space for trucks, or some goofy Ohio law.

Clem brings up a great point however. It is a bit#* when trying to find a parking spot that you won't get chased out of by the law, or, a rest area that is not jam packed w/ trucks after 9:00 at night when you are dead tired and need sleep. Personally, I prefer a shopping center for sleeping in my truck at night. It would be unusual to get woken up by a "Lot Lizard" at Walmart. The only problem is... where do you pee? .



Please consider those who are in dire need of rest, and unable to set the brakes just any where when choosing your parking spot for the night.

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by clem

Truckers are working and don't have any place to go. Also if you check ,Truckers use Truck Stops like Motels. It is hard to park a 18 wheeler at Ho Joe's or KOA. They also have to get off the road by law. Lets not mix apples with grapes or what ever. Just because we the RVers may want to park all night in Truck Stops and jump into our jamies for a long nights sleep. You maybe blocking a Trucker from laying over for a couple Hours.

Every Flying-J I've been to has dedicated RV parking areas, so there is no worry of blocking trucker's spaces. Truckers may be required to sleep by law, but every driver needs to sleep. At least I want all the drivers on the road to have gotten enough sleep!

 

[Matt42]

It may be the RV park and campground owners' lobby at work. Every night we spend at a Flying J or a Wally Mart parking lot is $20 to $50 out of the pocket of some RV park owner. (Interestingly, that's often why we DO that. I've wondered why I just spent $35 at a KOA when a Flying J would have been quieter. )

 

[Ron Bissett]

Most of the time its the Camp ground Owners that lobby the state to pass laws like that to make more money . They think that every one that will pass there camp ground ,will stop for the night at a cost not to bad for some to much for others and out of reach to still others. I know most people have jobs or have plenty of money to spend but some do not and some need to save a few dollars for other things . So they lobby to force every RV to either keep going down the road or use the Camp ground . Some RV people would not think of over night in any thing but a well kept Camp ground . As for the Truckers some are Rv owners too . They do have to find a place to rest and support the truck stops . The States must find place for every one to get at least some hours rest RV and Trucks and Auto too. Safe driving is no accident. Do not blame the Truckers . Try to find out who put the idea in the ear of the law makers. Just a thought and don't blame Flying J they are sure not happy with this . Ron Bissett in metro Louisville KyOo.

 

[Andy Perreault]

Everyone brings up good points here. Since I'm a truck driver (and my parents are retired RV'ers), I feel I should chime in, but this is not aimed at any one of you. Just remember that all those truck drivers are on the job. That's our national and global economy moving out there. That bumper sticker is true: "Without trucks, America stops". They're not out there because they want to get in your way and take up space in the rest areas and truck stops. Truck drivers can't just park a 53' trailer anywhere they want.

Also, consider this: if you owned a truck stop, which would you rather have filling up your large piece of property that you are paying for:

A) RV'ers who fill up with 40 or 50 gallons of fuel and then park and fix dinner in their rigs,

or

B) Truckers who fill up with 200+ gallons of fuel, eat in the restaurant, and load up on junk food for the road (and who will more than likely be back in a few days or maybe the next night on the return trip to load up with more fuel and food)?

The truck stops are private businesses trying to earn a profit, they're not public rest areas supported by the taxpayers.

That being said, there's a lot of money in catering to RV'ers, and the truck stops know that. But I can't blame them for wanting to place a higher priority on their real bread and butter, the trucking industry.

Andy



(not meaning to sound like a ranting whiner )

 

[klenger]

Andy: Good comments.



All: It seems that there is a real bias in the country against RV'ers parking anywhere. A semi can park along a deserted street or vacant lot and not get any attention at all, but park an RV there (whether you are sleeping in it or not), and it's a code violation and you are harrassed about it. I do appreciate that Wal Mart accepts us.

 

[hammersley]

RV'ers have a pretty good lobby as well or else

you couldn't go and buy a 35+'' Diesel Motorhome AND have no business driving it - i. e. no knowledge, practive or experience at all. If they required an endorsement for driving an RV, and I ,eam trailers as well -can you imagine what that would do to sales????

 

[dodger22]

Blame the campground owners for this law. There was a program on TV this past week where some campground owner was whining about the fact he had spent a considerable sum to upgrade his septic system and Rv'ers would stay at the local Walmart or wherever and when their tanks got filled would check into a campground for 1 night to dump and take on fresh water and then head back to the parking lot.



An owner of a 40' diesel pusher bragged to a friend of mine that for the whole summer he only spent 3 nights in campgrounds for the very reason mentioned above.



I think to stay in a Walmart parking lot for an overnight before moving on is a privilege, some people obviously abuse that privilege and it ends up affecting the rest of us.



By the same token some campground owners are gouging RV'ers.



Later,



Richard

 

[dremelts]

Originally posted by Blakers

they had to put up the signs and enforce them unless they wanted to be considered a campground.

Blake

OK, so why wouldn't Flying-J want to be considered a campground? They already provide all the amenities that a basic campground would be required to have - bathrooms, showers, dump stations. There's no water or electric hookup, but lots of campgrounds don't have those.



What am I missing?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by Blakers

they said the state of Ohio came up with a new law and they had to put up the signs and enforce them unless they wanted to be considered a campground.



We run the Ohio Turnpike probably four times a year with our fiver and usually overnight on the turnpike. Until recently, the only electrical hookups were at MP-78 both east and west bound. Now the upgraded rest stops also have RV parking with electical power if you can fit... the new areas are too short for my 45' overall length. So the Ohio Turnpike is now in the overnight RV parking business in a bigger way.



Also, the cost has gone from $3/nite (as I recall) to the going commercial rate ($14-$15?). You pay at the gas station and the attendants there don't know why the price increased. I've assumed it's because of commercial RV park pressure... but it could be that the turnpike commission is simply doing the economic thing... charging the max. So far, RVs are not prevented from mingling with trucks in the truck parking area. Wonder if that will change?



Maybe the Ohio state rule affecting Flying-J has multiple purposes... to get more RVs to stay overnight on the Turnpike as well as helping the commercial parks. Just speculating.

 

[KBalzuweit]

I was told the reason that they do not want you in your travel trailer or fifth wheel was because if somebody gets in and steals the the truck you are trapped in a moving trailer. I tow new units all over the US and have seen the signs and park anyway. I have signs on my truck and ICC and DOT numbers so they leave me alone. It also helps that I fill up my 115 gal aux tank too!!:--)

 

[Blakers]

I stopped at the Austinburg Flying J today and asked them about the RV parking deal. They said they aren't enforcing it anymore and have some kind of permit coming from the state.



Blake

 

[Eric_77]

Well here is the flip side

I heard in April about a new law going into effect in Nebraska May 1st. No semi parking in rest stops (like 1 hour max or something like that), do not know where that stands now.

 

[midwestdually]

there is no way that is going to happen.

 

[OTRPU]

I heard a bunch of crap. I live on the road most the time. I prefer FingJ's. But it's terrible trying to park there anymore. I'm going on record as saying that most RVers can't park for beans. No matter what type of rig. They leave the dam thing doglegged and taking two spots. I've come close to banging on doors and asking them to straighten the rig out. I've seen nights when only half the available spots could be used do to these talented fellows lack of skill. It's just plain inconsiderate. Also seen bobtail tractors using RV slots. My PU is >25 foot long, many tractors are the same length. When I'm MT I use the auto parking. I generally back in against the outside perimeter and hang the rear over something don't matter. I ask one of these bobtails why he was parking in RV slots once, his response was that they didn't want him back in the truck slots. BS. Fact is big trucks don't like RVs back in the truck slots. I tried to explain to this jerk that he was shooting himself in the foot. When I come in loaded and he's taking an RV slot he's forcing me to go park exactly where he doesn't want me to park. I got no other choice. Damned if I'm gonna go stay at a campground cause I'm deliverin an RV. But to them I look like one of you. Frequently we pull our badges and remove our transporter plates because low life competition steals them at times. This always cost the driver money, either DOT will fine us or our company will fine us. So I got a great idea, if you're real long park in a slot, but only take one. And if you don't need a long slot use auto parking. Now everybody can get a good nights sleep. Gonna be worser after new rules come into effect, commercial can drive 11 hours then off for 12 I hear. Can't split sleeper berth like we did before.



KB who you pull for?



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[HBarlow]

I heard some discussion recently on radio or television about the state of the economy in Ohio. According to the reporter the State of Ohio is in the hands of a group of free-spending liberals who have spent the state into major debt and caused businesses to move away. The state government is now trying to tax everything that moves and everything that doesn't move but can't defend itself. Same situation as that in California which led to a voter ouster of the former governor and the inauguration of Arnold the Terminator. Preventing RVers from overnighting at Flying J "Resorts", my favorite overnight stops, forces RVers to stay in RV parks and pay state sales taxes, indirectly pay RV park owner's state income taxes, and possibly some sort of lodging taxes. The parking restriction probably didn't come from Flying J or truckers. I've always found Flying Js to be RV friendly and truckers don't seem to mind me staying there. Some truckers are tired and just ignore me and others have been friendly (and probably bored) and have struck up a conversation.



Harvey

 

[Blakers]

Yes, Ohio is all screwed up! I grew up and have lived in Ohio for 40 years before moving to Pennsylvania 2 years ago. They just raised their sales tax and now extended it to include many more things. They raised fees from most everything from license plates to hunting licenses. They're driving businesses and jobs away right and left. All this because of overspending by the state government. And their liberal Republican governor wants to fix it all by more taxes! Nothing worse than a liberal Republican! What do you replace him with?