A tempest brewing in Maine re RVs and Wal-Mart

Owners of (Maine’s) 275 campgrounds are pushing legislation that would ban RVs from parking overnight at commercial lots, such as Wal-Mart… Proponents say the measure would help local campgrounds and RV parks stay in business and also allow the state to recoup nearly $1 million in lost state lodging taxes.

They say it's unfair that licensed campgrounds must comply with regulations, such as supplying drinking water and waste-removal facilities, while parking lot owners don't.

For the campground owners, the enemy is Wal-Mart, which has a national policy allowing RVs to park overnight in most of its parking lots. While Wal-Mart doesn't charge a fee, it does make money when people shop at the stores…

Wal-Mart by tradition has offered free parking to RV owners as part of an effort to serve communities… the company has never had any problems with RVs staying on its Maine properties and welcomes them… Nevertheless, Wal-Mart is not fighting the bill, she said. "Wal-Mart is going to do whatever the Legislature tells us to do, of course, and happily so."

While Wal-Mart is staying on the sidelines, RVers around the nation are mobilizing. News about the legislation has spread via the Internet on message boards and newsletters. People are sending e-mails and making phone calls to legislators, Democratic Gov. John Baldacci's office, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Maine tourism offices.

If it passes, Maine would become the first state in the nation to ban RVs from commercial parking lots.

The callers are delivering a simple message: If the Legislature passes this bill, RVers will no longer come to Maine.

This is an interesting situation, and I'm not sure which side I favor. I don't own an RV, but I have slept in my car in parking lots on vacations and long trips. I'm sympathetic to the campgrounds, but I know many state parks and national parks are overcrowded as it is during summer vacation months. Will follow with interest...

Via Fark.