[dev-da0]

I live in a compact-width van conversion (which fits in the tightest parking garages) with absolute privacy (curtains) in Mountain View (illegal to sleep in a car on the street, so stay on private property like parking lots) & Palo Alto (where it's currently legal to sleep in a car on the street). It's very comfortable and sleeps 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 kids.

Living in a car (when it's obvioua) is unfortunately an invitation for continual police harassment. Been there, done that. Police in Mountain View bang on car windows if you were to sleep in any of the downtown municipal parking lots OR even on private property. They have zero tolerance for poor people and show no compassion whatsoever. There is even this one female officer whom enjoys Schadenfreude to such a degree that it is well past hubris; (she will tow your car even if it's on private property.)

Better to live in a car or van where it's not obvious, (tint, curtains, etc.) because the junked-up cars and people obviously sleeping draw the most attention.

Also, ask me anything.

PS: During the day, it's impossible to tell that I live in my vehicle because it's very clean and everything's put away.

[fwn]

I know it's off topic but that it's illegal to sleep in a car appears to me to impose the most cynical incentive structure I encountered in a while.

I already did that several times in the past because I was seriously drunken.

Edit: Also as a follow up question on your further writing:

How do you handle very high or low temperature in a car? First I thought it's not a problem due to ACs, but as you pointed out that you've to hide your presence I can't really see that working. Very interesting post!

[dev-da0]

The Ninth Circuit effectively struck down Venice's enforcement of giving tickets to people whom appeared to be living in their vehicles. That case is why Palo Alto backed off on its towing and ticketing campaign. LA hates homeless people more so than Silicon Valley.

But it's part of larger issue of subtle, shameful discrimination based on economics and status akin but different how African Americans were treated in the 1950's South. The homeless and poor need a Civil Rights movement. Even if it won't change attitudes of snobs and bigots, there is room for additional protections and tighter limits on police harassment. (There should be federal protections to providing food for the poor because it is illegal to feed the homeless in parts of Florida. In other parts of Florida, it is also illegal to use blankets or any other materials to protect yourself from the elements. Basically, these laws make it illegal for some people to be alive, and those types of laws have no place in America.)

[steve19]

Where do you personally draw the line between harassment and police enforcing the law?

For example, if homeless folks cannot procreate without having sex in public locations, such as behind a bush in a public park, and we accept that banning procreation is unjust, does banning public sexual acts count as an unjust law?

[dev-da0]

Actually, since this is a pseudonym, I've had sex in public a several times and never had a problem. In fact, it was in one of (Saratoga, Los Gatos, Los Altos) wealthy communities of mostly residences that have little real crime, and locations were even suggested by the police (no they weren't filming). We even asked what they would do, they indicated there would generally not be a ticket unless it were somehow indecent (visible to others) and they just make sure it is consensual. It might've been the luxury sportscar at the time or the hot girl might've had something to do with police being extra helpful. (Btw the hot girl broached the questions, hilariously.)

It would be different, for say two shabby-looking folks going at it in Venice, CA in front of a street during the daytime. But a hot couple, at night, in some remote location in a safe area isn't going to raise eyebrows, especially if no one notices. It just goes to show there are layers of socioeconomic biases, plus not all homeless people are given feedback, care or are aware of what's considered acceptable by others.

Perhaps the core issue is should necessary biological functions (and common, strongly desired needs that others are able to fulfill) be disproportionally criminalized based on socioeconomic and other biases? (For most men, sex is a strong motivating drive... which is why the Netherlands includes it in public benefits.). There might be a "time and a place," but people whom have nothing need equal access to water, food, sanitation and whatever else can be afforded to make their lives a little more comfortable. (A society is judged on how it treats...)

[amateurpolymath]

Procreation is not needed for survival.

[segmondy]

You can get charged for drunk driving in some places if found sleeping in your car while drunk and you have the key on you. Just a heads up!

[dev-da0]

That's obvious and I didn't just fall off the turnip truck today. It's not even a concern for me as I don't drink, smoke or use drugs... not as a moralism bumpersticker thing, just not a fan and impaired judgement isn't wise.

There are a couple of these jackasses living in vans whom live like animals, get high and generally make things harder for everyone else, but they don't last long. They're in a minority because the majority are retired guys. There are some retired gals, some younger mostly guys but very few female vehicle dwellers generally.

[pm24601]

So I live in MTV, I would like to hear more about this as I am interested getting MVPD to be more understanding. It seems like harassing people on private property should be not allowed.

[carcamper]

Hello fellow car camper. I also live in my car. Although it's not as well setup or planned out as you, I just lay back the passenger seat and sleep there, no tint either which sucks.

When it was cooler out I would lay my back seat down and roll out the sleeping pad and sleeping bag and stretch out like that, but it's too hot and humid for that now (south east US).

I'm looking to move to the bay area, are walmarts accepting of overnight sleepers there? Do you use church parking lots at all?

[dognotdog]

So what do you do, and why did you choose to live in the van?

[webnrrd2k]

For those who are interested, check out the vandwellers sub on reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers