Despite more oversize-vehicle citations, coastal residents see no changes

SAN DIEGO – Following a long delay, the San Diego Police Department is now stepping up enforcement on people living in cars and RVs parking overnight in beach areas, including Mission Bay. Between July 2-25, SDPD issued 189 oversize-vehicle citations and 519 parking tickets. San Diego has had ordinances on the books restricting vehicle habitation, particularly overnight.  Sleeping in a vehicle on public streets is prohibited between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Additionally, long-term vehicle habitation, including in RVs, on private property, is often restricted, with a typical 72-hour limit for camping.  Recent legal challenges and settlements, however, have changed enforcement, requiring police to now offer alternative shelter options before citing individuals for vehicle habitation. There are currently four active Safe Parking sites across the city, two of which are open 24 hours. Times of San Diego reached out through emails and social media to ask coastal area residents if they have seen a difference with the increased enforcement of RVs and oversized vehicles. Here’s what they had to say: Bill Zent of Pacific Beach hasn’t noticed any appreciable difference. “I belong to Mission Bay Boat and Ski Club at the end of the road that goes to Mission Bay Golf Course, and I have seen no change,” he said. “I was there the other day, and some RV had been there over a month. The RVs parked on both sides of the road present a real hazard. You have people on bikes, walking kids, and families. Only one car can pass through this on the entry road to the course.” Six years ago, attorney Ann Menasche filed a lawsuit against the city on behalf of 11 homeless people to challenge city ordinances against living in vehicles and parking oversized vehicles such as RVs on city streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. She was not pleased by the news of the recent SDPD crackdown. “We find this extremely disturbing,” Menasche said. “It is not in the interests of either our class members – people whose only shelter is their vehicles – ‘or’ the city, for people to have their RVs impounded for unpaid tickets and end up without shelter on the streets. “Class members need to understand their rights regarding enforcement of the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance. People with RVs or other oversized vehicles are only obligated to accept a safe lot placement, such as at H Barracks (in Point Loma), if it is reasonably available to them. Because the lot is only open at night, one factor for some RV dwellers may be the cost of daily travel to and from the lot to where they park during the day,” Menasche said. Following are comments from other coastal residents about the effectiveness – or ineffectiveness – of SDPD’s recent stepped-up enforcement of vehicle dwellers. “Currently, we are utilizing the water balloon enforcement model for the RVs, where you squeeze it here and it pops out over there,” said John Volanski of PB Pacifica. “Viewed at the overall system level, there is no appreciable change.” “I biked through Mission Bay Drive this past Sunday morning, still loads of RVs, yellow school buses with people living in them, especially the northwestern section of the road,” said Fan Dong, who lives near Kate Sessions Park in PB. Patsy K. of PB North Shore Highlands South said RVs are increasing at Ski Beach in Crown Point. “Not only do they have bayfront parking at no cost, but I recently witnessed a complimentary trash pickup service,” she said. “Another complete failure on the part of our mayor and our City Council members.” Cathy Ives of Mission Beach said she’s frustrated. “I had to report a large truck with a trailer that took up nine parking spaces. This was in a ‘no’ overnight camping lot. The first change was that they detached the truck from the trailer, now taking up six spaces. Two weeks later, still there. No ticket. Nothing.” Diana Bui of northwest Ocean Beach said the status quo remains unchanged. “I haven’t seen any improvements or a difference,” she said. “We had two big RVs parked on my street here in OB last week and it impinges our view when trying to pull out onto the street with traffic. Our landlord had to remove any electrical outlets and water faucets on the outside of our building due to people coming and plugging in for free electricity and filling up their RVs with our water.” “We are a sanctuary city for people living in RVs and other vehicles,” said Lisa B. of PB North. “I counted 60 at a usually empty parking lot near SeaWorld and Paradise Point. Likewise, at Dana Point. No reason to stay at Campland, a safe parking lot or other facilities when you can park anywhere on the bay for free with no standards or penalties.” Jill Sorge of Mission Beach also hasn’t seen much of a change since enforcement was beefed up. “There are still quite a few RVs at Mission Point Park in the bayside lot across the channel from OB,” she said. “It’s sad because they take up all the parking that San Diego families need for a day at the beach or bay, which is one of the few free things to do in our very expensive city.” Randy Edmunds of PB Pacifica said he’s noticed some improvement from increased RV enforcement. “I went to the Mission Bay Golf Course last Saturday, a little before 9 a.m., and the roadsides were pretty full with parked RVs,” he said. “But when I left about two hours later, there weren’t any RVs. So I’m guessing that there is enforcement during certain hours.” “I have not noticed a difference,” said Terry Kraszewski of La Jolla Shores. “I’ve had one parked in front of my house for four days.” “Sunset Cliffs area between Coronado Street and Bermuda Street is their new go-to spot for their oversized Sprinter Vans taking two parking spots, blocking views of intersections, and enjoying the beach life rent-free,” said Ric K. of Ocean Beach.