Warning Campers: Governor Signs Law Allowing Police Removal Of Obnoxious RV Park Guests

Alabama police are now allowed to remove RV park guests who are disturbing the peace, among other things. Think about it. Sitting around a campfire with your best friends is certainly a fun way to end the day.

Unfortunately, some people don’t know when to turn their fun level down before it bothers others. The law provides assistance to RV parks with those obnoxious RV park guests.

So what exactly does this mean? What could potentially get you removed from an Alabama RV park?

Let’s take a deeper look!

What Is House Bill 555?

House Bill 555 (HB555) is an amendment to Section 35-15-30, Code of Alabama 1975. The purpose is to clarify the original code regarding the process of eviction from an RV park. In addition, the amendment provides a detailed outline of the requirements for having a guest removed from an RV park.

HB555 will put RV parks in the same category under the law as hotels and motels. The clarity this legislation provides helps ensure the removal of obnoxious guests according to the law. An RV park must provide a written notice to the guest informing them that they need to leave and refund any unused portions of advanced payments.

What Would Change Under This New Law?

Under House Bill 555, RV parks will have a process for legally removing a guest from their parks. Up until introducing this bill, removing a guest was up to the RV park to handle. This bill will put them on the same level as hotels and motels, where law enforcement can handle removing an obnoxious guest.

Reasoning with an obnoxious or inebriated guest can be intense and quickly turn violent. Luckily HB555 will help RV parks with this process and avoid any physical altercations. Law enforcement can quickly ensure proper protocols take place and then remove the guest. If the guest chooses not to cooperate with law enforcement, they could find themselves facing legal issues.

Can Police Arrest RV Park Guests?

Yes, the police can arrest and remove an RV park guest when they’ve broken the law. While House Bill 555 aims at obnoxious guests, being annoying in itself is not a crime. However, a guest behaving obnoxiously due to alcohol or illegal drugs may potentially spend the night in the slammer.

In addition, if law enforcement gives you a warning for other behavior and you disregard them, they can still remove you from the park.

Law enforcement officers were perfectly legal to arrest RV park guests before the introduction of House Bill 555. This bill ensures guests are removed at the request of the RV park in an orderly fashion and keeps RV park staff and guests as safe as possible.

How To Not Be an Obnoxious RV Park Guest

If an RV park asks you to leave the park, it’s likely because you were an obnoxious RV park guest. We want to help you avoid having to pack up unexpectedly. So here’s a handful of our best tips on how not to be an obnoxious RV park guest.

Pro Tip: Here are the 7 deadly sins of RV camping.

#1 – Follow Posted Rules

One of the most important ways to not be obnoxious is to follow the posted rules. When reserving a campsite, you’re submitting yourself to the RV park’s rules and regulations. It’s your responsibility to know and follow the rules of the park. Unfortunately, pleading ignorance may not be enough to avoid being ejected from an RV park. There’s even been an RVer kicked out of a campground for having a package delivered to the campground.

It’s important to remember that no matter how ridiculous you think a rule or regulation is, it’s still a rule. No matter how much you disagree with them, the RV park chooses the rules and likely has a reason for enforcing them. 

#2 – Avoid Sprawling Out

When reserving a campsite, you’re not reserving the entire campground. So keep your camping gear contained within your site. Avoid pushing the boundaries of where your campsite ends and your neighbor’s starts. It’s not only obnoxious but rude as well.

Don’t treat community-use sections of the campground as your personal camping space. These areas are for anyone in the campground to use, even if it does border your campsite. Be sure to return your belongings to your campsite when finished using the space.

#3 – Keep The Noise Down

Excessive noise, especially after quiet hours have begun, is extremely obnoxious. Whether you’re outside sitting around the campfire talking or inside your RV, keep your volume in check. You’ll quickly attract attention for all the wrong reasons if you’re loud.

We love good music as much as anyone, but the entire campground doesn’t want to hear your camping playlist. So don’t be the obnoxious guest that blares music the whole weekend. Keep the volume at a modest level so that you can hear it, but your neighbors should not be able to hear it.

#4 – Keep Your Camp Clean

The more you camp, the more items you collect designed to enhance your camping experience. However, problems arise when these items don’t get put away. After a few days of camping, your campsite could resemble a small yard sale.

A messy campsite will quickly draw complaints from staff and fellow campers. Be respectful and maintain a tidy campsite during your stay. A tidy campsite is much easier to enjoy and relax than a cluttered one. Keep your favorite RV park looking good by keeping your site clean!

A Step Toward Fewer Obnoxious RV Park Guests

House Bill 555 is a step forward in enhancing the atmosphere of RV parks in Alabama. We’re hopeful that this will become standard practice across the country. Be sure to educate yourself on the rules and regulations of any campgrounds you’re camping in, and you can avoid being an obnoxious camper! What’s the oddest rule you’ve seen while in a campground?

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