The Anne Arundel County Council overturned County Executive Steuart Pittman’s veto of a bill banning living overnight in recreational vehicles parked on public roads.

The legislation, introduced Sept. 3 by council member Nathan Volke, a Pasadena Republican, prohibits people from using RVs as dwellings while parked on roads between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Recreational vehicles include campers, motor homes and travel trailers.

While the council approved the bill 4-3 on Oct. 7 — council members Julie Hummer, a Laurel Democrat, Allison Pickard, a Glen Burnie Democrat, and Lisa Rodvien, an Annapolis Democrat, voted against it — Pittman vetoed the bill Oct. 18.

“I am vetoing this bill because I believe this legislation amounts to government overreach and places an unreasonable imposition on individuals who may be housing insecure and are otherwise in compliance with county rules and regulations,” he wrote in a letter to the council.

However, the council voted 6-1 Monday to override Pittman’s veto. Rodvien voted against overriding it.

At the council’s Oct. 7 meeting, Volke said the bill was prompted by constituent concerns and is intended as an educational tool, rather than a penalty.

“It would prohibit something that is currently not prohibited, though probably disfavored,” he said. “There are certainly safety concerns about having people use a recreational vehicle as a living quarter or living facility on a county road.”

Violating the bill’s provisions is a civil offense, which comes with a $50 fine.

Though the county doesn’t have laws prohibiting people from sleeping in their cars, police officers could still approach someone doing that if they receive a call for service, said Anne Arundel County Police Capt. Tim Schultz, who works in the department’s traffic safety division.

While officers can already approach or cite parked RVs if they’re impeding travel for emergency vehicles or snowplows, this bill would give police a legal reason to talk to drivers of other improperly parked RVs and educate them on the new law. If the driver is unable to move their RV, officers could take enforcement action if needed, Schultz said.

“By having something like this, an officer actually has the ability to then have firm ground to stand on and say, ‘This is why I’m here, I was here for a call for service and now I’m actually engaging with you,’” he said. “And without having that ability and not having a law such as this, or a county ordinance, it leaves that officer sort of in a position where [it’s like], ‘Why are you here?’”

During the bill’s Oct. 7 public hearing, Annapolis resident Steve Miller said he’s seen several instances of someone living in an RV for an extended period of time in his neighborhood, saying electrical cables and hoses laid across public sidewalks create a tripping hazard.

“People have a place to go with a recreational vehicle besides a neighborhood to be able to live,” he said. “I think this bill is really a good thing for homeowners associations, particularly ones that prohibit those kind of vehicles on lots, and also would prohibit them on their private roads within the neighborhood.”

Others raised concerns for people whose only home is an RV.

“My thought is that if the problem is about emergency vehicles, make a stronger law so that parked vehicles can’t impede emergency vehicles, rather than beating around the bush with a law like this, which sounds like it would hurt people who are trying to figure out how to make it one night,” said Annapolis resident Kari Alperovitz-Bichell.

Annapolis resident Kathy Gosnell said her friend lived in an RV after her home burned down. She would prefer the police recommend safe, free places to park overnight.

“There are RV places, but they cost, and if you’ve lost everything, you can’t afford that,” she said.

Some chain stores, like Walmart or Sam’s Club, both of which have locations in Anne Arundel County, allow RVs to park overnight, though drivers are asked to check with store management first.

The legislation goes into effect Dec. 5.

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