I fought the law and got it struck down

[Dinner]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
The fear is that the homeless will begin congregating and Lord knows we can't have the homeless clustering, they must constantly be on the move to become someone else's problem...

I think it has more to do with people misusing public parks and sidewalks there by denying fair use to other citizens. Not to mention most parks and sidewalks don't have bathrooms so when these people crap it makes the park or sidewalk that less attractive to other people as well as creating a public health hazard.

[Solly]

Can't they use the bogs in McDonald's?

[Dinner]

Nope. That's private property and understandably the restaurants don't want filthy people who are high, drunk, or crazy scaring away costumers. Especially since the homeless guy isn't likely to buy much.

[Dinner]

The funnest thing I've read in a while was on Barbara Strissand. Old Barb was a HUGE supporter of the "striking farmers" in LA and demanded that city and the courts recognize their "rightful rights" (I can't make this **** up) to continue farming an old lot. The problem was that the lot had an actual legal owner who had always paid the taxes and who had spent years attempting to evict the squaters from his land. The owner wanted to build apartments but he'd be harrassed for over 10 years with law suits from activists intent on blocking him from developing his land or getting rid of the illegal squatters.

The poor guy finally won and after 10 years and nearly $800,000 in legal fees and expenses the city police agreed to evict the squaters which caused the "plight" of the illegal squatters (renamed: "farmers") became the Hollywood cause de celebritie for a month or two. Strasand made some extraordinarially stupid statements to support the squaters such as claiming that any where someone pitches a tent is a home and no one should ever be forced out of his home.

An enterprising writer decided to take Strissand up on her words and went over to Barbara's house and began camping on her front lawn! You can imagine how outraged Strissand was and how quickly she called the cops and had both the man and his tent removed. I guess every tent really isn't a home after all.

[Solly]

I always use McDonald's bogs when I'm drunk.

[OzzyKP]

The Boise cops harassed me for sleeping in my car back in 2000. Bastards.

San Antonio too I think.

And this beach town in Delaware. And...

Those laws suck. Fight the power

[Solly]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
When I was younger I thought curfews were silly, but now as the daughter of a young woman, I appreciate them. - Rah

[SlowwHand]

I've know people who were taken to jail after sleeping in their car, for public drunkeness.
That's outrageous. Trying to be responsible, admittedly at a late date, but still...

[Barnabas]

Why is sleeping in your car against the law?

[Tattila the Hun]

'Cause you might hit something, duh.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
Why is sleeping in your car against the law?

In Canada I'm not sure about any local laws about sleeping but if you are drunk and have the keys, you could be charged with " impaired driving"-- IIRC the actual charge is having the care and control of a motor vehicle while impaired . Most police will not attempt to roust you on this but I believe there have been convictions ( imagine the drunk turns on the car to get some heat and then passes out in the front seat)

[Flubber]

As for the OP, I have mixed feelings about your quest. I have seen parks taken over by homeless here in Calgary and they crap and pee everywhere. Some are harassing as well such that families and children are, for practical purposes , denied the use of the park

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Flubber


In Canada I'm not sure about any local laws about sleeping but if you are drunk and have the keys, you could be charged with " impaired driving"-- IIRC the actual charge is having the care and control of a motor vehicle while impaired . Most police will not attempt to roust you on this but I believe there have been convictions ( imagine the drunk turns on the car to get some heat and then passes out in the front seat)

I once did exactly that. I went to a party and had to much to drink then decided to sleep it off in my car. At night it got very cold so I turned on the car and cranked up the heater. Luckily, I didn't get in trouble.

[Wezil]

Your experience is not uncommon.

As Flubber points out it is the "care and control" issue. If you have the keys (ie the engine is running) you have the ability to put the vehicle in gear and drive.

Sleeping drunk in a car w/o access to the keys is not a problem (legally anyway ) but that of course precludes running the engine for warmth.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil
Your experience is not uncommon.

As Flubber points out it is the "care and control" issue. If you have the keys (ie the engine is running) you have the ability to put the vehicle in gear and drive.

and with drunks, the police do not want to have to wait until the vehicle actually starts moving to attempt to arrest someone-- IN many situations that could be quite dangerous