Stealth campers fined more than the cost of a top hotel

Published: August 21, 2014

While some grey nomads travelling in campervans or motorhomes may have occasionally tried ‘stealth camping’ – that is unobtrusively parking up in a residential street for the night – it is not a practice that is looked upon favourably by many local authorities.

Indeed, some towns such as Byron Bay on the New South Wales north coast have virtually declared war on the ‘vanpackers’ who regularly camp in suburban streets. During holiday  periods, council staff patrol almost 24 hours a day, and hand out hundreds of penalty notices.

And the fines involved can be described as a lot more than a smack on the wrist. Earlier this week, Mullumbimby Local Court.fined three Sydney tourists a total of $4250. Not that there was much ‘stealth’ involved in the way the trio tried to spend the night at a car park in the town’s Cavvanbah St.

A council ranger found the campers in a hired removal trailer at about 3am with rubbish strewn around the area. They were parked about 50 metres from a sign warning against overnight staying, and were surrounded by a variety of accommodation providers.

“The officers woke up the occupants of a hired removal trailer who offered no explanation as to why they were camping in the area, or express remorse for camping or littering,” Byron Shire Council’s governance manager Ralph James said in at statement. “An abundance of rubbish was strewn around the immediate vicinity of the trailer. The rubbish strewn across the ground included bottles, plastic, cans, cardboard and other domestic waste.”

One of campers was fined $1650, while the other two, who pleaded guilty early, were fined $1300 each.

Byron Shire Council said the fines sent a strong deterrent message to potential street campers.

  • Do you think the fines were fair? Have you ever ‘stealth camped’? Do you think there is a big difference between those who attempt to unobtrusively sleep in their vehicle, and those who attempt to literally camp in suburban streets? Comment below.

 

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Not before time they should do it more often true nomads are sick and tired of being labeled the same as these people

I agree that people shouldn’t camp in streets or public council car parks but when I was young and my family had little resources we camped in areas that were set aside by local councils that had toilets and waste disposal bins. We are trying to encourage people to go out with their children and spend quality time with them but then we restrict it once again to the middle income person. Unfortunately (particularly in small towns) the local caravan park owner is either on the council or is close friends with someone on the council, not to mention that fining someone creates another income source for local councils. Let’s get serious about having a park set aside in each town to allow free camping. This allows low income families to also enjoy what the privileged do, this way all the people in the town will benefit from travelers spending money on groceries fuel and other items. Also the added benefit of fatigued drivers being able to rest and avoid accidents. We need to stop allowing a few privileged groups running our towns and reaping the rewards.

There are campers. These are not campers.

What I can’t understand is they are on TV all the time telling you to not drive fatigued pull over and rest, but if you do it in a camper they fine you.

But why would you camp illegally in Byron Bay? If one has not much money then camp at a cheap or free forest site not in the town. Being an untidy pig is something else

Interestingly my son-in-law pulled up on the side of the Hume Hway for power nap – a highway patrol cop arrived, spent nearly an hour searching his car, and gave the ‘probably cause’ as “it is suspicious that you parked here for a rest”

he is not a stirrer – if it had been me I would have pursued it in the media and with his superiors

when do councils around OZ begin to realise that travellers in campers are to be reckon with??? we are spending a lot of money whereever we stay. low cost or no cost overnight stays should be provided along the coast and inland. retirees deserve better,, we contributed a lot to the living standards we are enjoying today. it’s about time that this is recognized by the mostly younger generation who represents us in local governments.

I agree that they should have been fined for littering, but the fines are “over the top” I cant afford that, the fine is disproportionate to the crime, a car thief and mugger would not be fined anywhere near that amount. I would have said a $200 fine would have been in order, Councils need to be in tune with society.

The only problem with fines are the ones that do not get paid because the offenders in many cases disappear back overseas.
There should be on the spot fines of $200/300 imposed or they loose the camper/equipment. Hire companies get the camper back after fine paid from deposits they should hold.

Wagga has a nice spot (free for a few days) on the river close to town…I bet the GN’s spend a few $$$ in the town!

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