Community Forums

MICHIGAN CAMPER · 07-25-2011, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billieg

Got to Chattanooga today, took the Harley off the trailer and went for a ride. Beautiful back roads and all is fine until I see the blues lit up in back of me. Seems you need a helmet here in Tn and I and the DW don't own any. The cops says "I ride too so I'll give ya a break". He calls another cop and one gets in front of me and one in back and lead me to Wal-Mart where they tell me to get some. Wal-Mart comes through again!

See? I LOVE THIS THREAD!

Were Y'all from that you didn't know you had to wear a helmet in Tenn?
Nice cops, huh.
michigancamper

TW · 07-25-2011, 06:37 AM

but nice cops. Just moved in a new area in El Paso and could not find the street anymore after a Stateline Bar

visit. The nice cop stopped me and asked where I live? He drove ahead and knocked on the Door. Is this your Husband? Yep

Nice cop.

When did we see Wal-Mart move all over the country?
I just don't come up with a year.

She and I · 07-25-2011, 07:44 AM

Don't know if this was posted or not but seems Lake City changed their minds!

From RVbookstore.com

Breaking RV News
RVers speak up--city removes Walmart overnight ban

Here's a switch: Far too often we hear stories of how local governments have put a ban on RVers overnighting in store parking lots. This time we're happy to report that the outcry of RVers has actually caused one city government to reverse itself and invite RVers to stay at their local Walmart.

Last January, Lake City, Florida officials required their local Walmart to post signs reading, "No RV Camping or Sleeping Enforced." The signs went up after complaints to city government from the area's tourist development council. The reaction on the part of RVers was swift. City Manager Wendell Johnson says there was a huge outcry, "For the most part it was negative," recalls Johnson. "It cast a terrible reflection on Lake City."

Johnson quickly got with the mayor, and after taking counsel, they fired off a letter to Walmart management, "You are in no way obligated to have these signs posted and may remove them at your convenience." The signs quickly vanished, and many in the RVing community sent letters of thanks to city management. The city still maintains an ordinance which reads, "No major recreational equipment shall be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a lot in a residential direction or any other location not approved for such use," but Wendell Johnson says the city has no intention of making it apply to folks who simply overnight at Walmart. If anyone opts to overstay their welcome, say making the Walmart lot a permanent dwelling, Johnson says the ordinance could be applied to move them along.

Johnson adds, "We want RVers to view Lake City as a friendly place to stop," he said. "We donâ€™t want any tourists coming through thinking we're unfriendly."

For its part, the tourist development council says it's happy, and plans no further squawking about RV overnighting -- at least in Lake City. For more information, visit the Lake City Reporter.

Richard

melvonnar · 07-25-2011, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICHIGAN CAMPER

See? I LOVE THIS THREAD!

Were Y'all from that you didn't know you had to wear a helmet in Tenn?
Nice cops, huh.
michigancamper

Florida don't require them.

Billieg · 07-25-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICHIGAN CAMPER

See? I LOVE THIS THREAD!

Were Y'all from that you didn't know you had to wear a helmet in Tenn?
Nice cops, huh.
michigancamper

We are from Fl. and don't need helmets. Forgot most states you do. We went to Wal-mart and paid $95 for 2 and I was griping until we met one of the cops at the local diner later. He said the fine would have been $175 apiece and my bike would have been impounded if he had followed the law! Ya, nice cops and nice people here in the South. I wish I had a picture of us in the middle of 2 cop cars with the blues lit up escorting us to Wal-Mart. You should have seen the shoppers faces when we showed up!

menoble · 07-25-2011, 10:50 AM

I usually check my HOG tour atlas before venturing into unknown territory, but there a plenty of websites with the info., just make sure they're current, things can change quickly.

Lindsay Richards · 07-25-2011, 11:18 AM

We got a bogus ticket not far from there at Emerson, GA. It is a town of 1400 people with 12 cops. They give out tickets as fast as they can. I was set up with some cones in the road directing me to a make a u-turn across the paved median. Just a set up. Cost me $120. It is strickly a money making thing. I eventually paid after writng all my letters and stuff. The officer (Bubba) was snotty and nasty to me. He lied.

RJay · 07-25-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billieg

Got to Chattanooga today, took the Harley off the trailer and went for a ride. Beautiful back roads and all is fine until I see the blues lit up in back of me. Seems you need a helmet here in Tn and I and the DW don't own any. The cops says "I ride too so I'll give ya a break". He calls another cop and one gets in front of me and one in back and lead me to Wal-Mart where they tell me to get some. Wal-Mart comes through again!

Hi Bill,
I found this site is handy for helmet laws.

RVNeophytes2 · 07-25-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madrona

If folks want to shop at Wal-Mart to save money, more power to them.

I shop there because it's convenient and reasonable, for the most part. I don't go to KOA or closest campground because it's not convenient.

It has nothing to do with paying to camp or not paying to camp. That is why I bought a motorhome, for the self-contained convenience it offers. However, if Wal-Mart charged $40 a night, I would overnight somewhere else that doesn't charge $40 a night. Why pay for something I don't need?

Well, when I design my own WalMart, it'll have a portion of the parking lot that has some features you'll really enjoy:

Back-in slots along one side of the parking lot, with credit-card driven 50A kiosks. Back up 'til your tires touch the curb, plug in, swipe your card. There is a $5 minimum charge, to cover processing.
The end of the gas island will feature straight in and out access, have a "RV Lane" sign. As is presently the case, pre-purchase fuel in the store with a 10% discount.
Dump station. Obtain access code in the store, for a nominal price.
If you bring in a bag of trash from the parking lot between 7 and 11AM, my store will give you a free tall coffee.
RV'ers who push four or more carts into the store are also given a free coffee, between 7 and 11.

Okay, I don't know where the store is going to be located; I'll post that info as soon as I get the call from Bentonville.

4Knights · 07-25-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billieg

Got to Chattanooga today, took the Harley off the trailer and went for a ride. Beautiful back roads and all is fine until I see the blues lit up in back of me. Seems you need a helmet here in Tn and I and the DW don't own any. The cops says "I ride too so I'll give ya a break". He calls another cop and one gets in front of me and one in back and lead me to Wal-Mart where they tell me to get some. Wal-Mart comes through again!

Been riding 35+ years, been in the healthcare industry 30 years. Wear the helmet all the time, we have a name for riders without helmets in our Emergency Room-- ORGAN DONOR! They, like seat belts save lives. Ride safe
Ron

Madrona · 07-25-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Knights

Been riding 35+ years, been in the healthcare industry 30 years. Wear the helmet all the time, we have a name for riders without helmets in our Emergency Room-- ORGAN DONOR! They, like seat belts save lives. Ride safe
Ron

4Knights · 07-25-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madrona

Love Walmart great place to buy a helmet

W4RLR · 07-25-2011, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madrona

But the truth, nonetheless.

Mr_D · 07-25-2011, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larcougar

I shop at WalMart get my supplys because I save money then go to
a koa or closest campground and PAY to camp for the night,have water
elect and I can dump in the morning befor I travel to next campground
and feel good that I helped a campground keep running,I think Wal Mart
will always be there.
that is why I brought a 5th wheel to camp at campgrounds not at
Wal Mart If they charged $40. a night would you still camp there

So, if it bothers you that others stay there then just look the other way. When we're in "travel" mode we have no need for the amenities of a campground, just somewhere to catch a few "z's". We paid lots of money to have a fully self contained rig so we don't need hookups every night. We hit the store for supplies and a close by restaurant for dinner and then hit the sack, usually out of there by 8:00am or so. When we finally retire our income will be over $70,000 a year without touching our IRA's so it's not a matter of money as some seem to think, it's convenience.