There some considerations for the drivers of Vancouver looking for a a power nap while sitting in their cars. While it isn’t against the law to sleep in your vehicle, many locations in Vancouver and areas of the province don’t allow vehicles to be parked in the same area for extended lengths of time.
Many municipalities completely prohibit overnight parking and camping and drivers intending to do so much check local bylaws and regulations before setting up camp for the night. Vancouver criminal lawyer Kyla Lee added that “police rarely enforce those [rules] unless it’s a problem.” For example, when there are individuals using an RV as their primary residence while parked on a city street.
Kyla also said people who have already paid for parking can sleep overnight in a parkade or surface lot. Overnight campers also should make sure they don’t carry or do anything that could get them into legal trouble.
“As far as what you do not want to do, never drink in a vehicle. Not only is that contrary to BC’s Liquor Control Licensing Act, but you could end up charged with impaired driving,” she noted.
“You do not need to actually be driving to face a charge, as the Criminal Code defines this as ‘operating’ so long as you are in possession of the means to set the vehicle in motion.”
-Kyla Lee
Will the City of Vancouver parking enforcement ticket you for sleeping in your vehicle?
The city’s parking enforcement told V.I.A. that it doesn’t routinely target people sleeping in their vehicles. However, vehicles parked illegally, whether the driver is sleeping in it or not, are subject to the same regulations and bylaws as all other vehicles
“We cannot speak about sleeping in any private parking lots but within the City of Vancouver, you may sleep in your vehicle anywhere while parked legally (i.e. you would be able to sleep for two hours in a 2-hour Time Limit zone),”
-City of Vancouver
In any case you should be careful of fire protocols, noise, garbage and sewage disposal. These are the most common problems that cause friction between the campers and the city.
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