Why Sleeping In Your Car Can Be Good or Bad
Aside from getting from point A to point B, you can use your vehicle for many other things. For instance, it’s where you can eat take-out food or freshen up before you meet your date. And when you’re feeling sleepy and you don’t want to risk it, your car can also double as your bedroom.
However, you may be daunted by thought that you may be roused from sleep by police banging his or her nightstick against your car window. You fear that instead of spending some time in dreamland, you could end up spending some time in the slammer for breaking the law. But is it really against the law to sleep in your car? It’s obvious that we shouldn’t sleep in our cars when we’re driving them, but is it the same thing when it’s parked somewhere? Keep on reading to know the answer to the question is it illegal to sleep in your car. Below we will also talk about a few other related matters that you should know about, too.
Sleeping and Driving Don’t Mix
Experts say that 20 percent of all car crashes in the US can be blamed on drivers who fall asleep in their car while driving. Needless to say, it is a terrible idea for you to be on the road with your hands on the wheel if you’re not alert.
To put an end to the problem and keep yourself and other people (your passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians) out of harm’s way, you could try having a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, sometimes coffee is not available or not an option, such as if you are suffering from acid reflux or anxiety disorder. In some instances, the only way to deal with the problem is by parking your car and taking a nap.
Sometimes, you may find sleeping in your car tempting if you are driving in the middle of the night and you wish to dodge the steep cost of getting a hotel room. At times it may be the only option if you are in the middle of nowhere and no lodging is available. If such is the case, then your car’s seat or trunk (if it’s a minivan) may serve as your bed.
And this brings us to the question is it illegal to sleep in your car. Whether or not it is against the law to sleep in your car, sleeping is obviously a smart step to take if you can no longer fight off your sleepiness.
Here’s the truth: sleeping in your vehicle is not allowed in some states, but in others it is perfectly fine for you to do so. If you are in a different state and you have no idea if you could be breaking the law for taking a break and catching some Z’s in your vehicle, log on the web to do quick research or contact a family or friend who knows the answer.No one wants to end up in a vehicular accident for driving while sleepy. Similarly, no one wants to land in jail for breaking the law, such as catching some shut-eye in their car.
Illegal in Some Cities, Legal in Some
To give you a much better idea if it’s illegal to sleep in your car or not, back in 2014 as many as 81 states in the US have banned people from sleeping in their car.
Such was the decision of lawmakers to help with the management of the growing cases of homelessness. There are lots of people with vehicles but have no homes. Needless to say, it’s their respective cars that are serving as their homes. While this is helpful and opportune for them, sadly, the rest of the population does not like seeing people sleeping on the pavement, in cars, or elsewhere.
If you are in one of those 81 cities where homeless people are not allowed to sleep in their car and you are spotted by the authorities sleeping in yours, you could be arrested. Again, before you attempt to have a good night’s sleep in your car, make sure that you are not about to do something that’s against the law. You don’t want to be mistaken for as someone who’s homeless. More importantly, you don’t want to have a criminal record
Fortunately, there are many cities in the US that do not mind people sleeping in their cars. Make sure that you are in one of those cities before you sleep in your vehicle, whether as a power nap or an overnight thing.
As an example, in New York City it is possible for us to sleep in our cars, it doesn’t matter if we just want to take a nap or spend the entire night in our respective vehicles. It is also not illegal to sleep in your car in San Francisco — there is no need for the question is it illegal to “sleep in my car to keep running in your mind. In many US cities that are notorious for having exorbitant rents, people are allowed to enjoy their sleep in your car. Your sleeping mind could get its much-needed break in these cities without leaving your vehicle.
Staying Safe While Sleeping in Your Car
Even though it’s not illegal to sleep in your car in the city that you’re in, there is something that you should keep in mind before getting some Z’s: your safety. We all know that it’s at night when crooks come out, and many of them choose to victimize people who sleep in their cars unless they are evidently homeless and living in their cars.
Because you obviously don’t look homeless, you have to make sure that you are out of harm’s way. A homeless person who sleeps in his vehicle usually has tons of stuff inside his car. This is why keeping our car clutter-free is a good idea. A homeless person who is sleeping in his car usually has pillows and blankets. On the other hand, someone who does sleep in his car just because he could use some rest doesn’t have such kind of preparation.
It is also a good idea to park and sleep in the area that’s closest to a 24-hour establishment with a security guard, like a convenience store or a hospital. Some people choose to sleep in their cars near a police station, while others find sleeping in their cars right next to one another safer. As they say, there is strength in numbers. Some choose to head to a nice neighborhood where sleeping in a car illegal it ain’t, particularly where there are lots of vehicles parked outside.
Have you tried sleeping in your car? Is it illegal or legal where it happened? How was it? Don’t be too shy to share your experience in the comments section below!
If you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: info@zemotor.com
