City ordinance would allow 3-day RV parking

Las Vegas resident Tom Nilson is hopeful a proposed city ordinance will mean his next RV trip doesn’t involve a detour to the courthouse.

Nilson, who owns a 31-foot motorhome, is in favor of an ordinance backed by Councilman Bob Beers that would let RV owners park their rigs on a city street long enough to prepare for a long trip. The ordinance is scheduled for a vote Wednesday. Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian is also a bill sponsor.

Currently, city code requires owners to load or unload RVs “expeditiously” or risk a ticket from parking enforcement. But Nilson said the code is ambiguous and doesn’t account for the fact it can take days to properly prepare some RVs.

“They are great, but they take work to get them ready,” said Nilson, who said the process of firing up the refrigerator, de-winterizing fluid lines and making sure the large tires are roadworthy can take longer than parking enforcement officers might think.

The result, as Nilson learned the hard way, can be a ticket from the city for violating a code that governs how long vehicles can remain parked along the street.

Nilson and Beers say a 48 to 72 hour limit should replace the current vague language. The original bill called for 48 hours but it was amended to 72 in committee and could be changed again by the council.

“We’re not full timers so it sits in storage when I am not using it,” Nilson said. “Getting prepped to go is quite a challenge.”

Homeowners’ associations that maintain their own streets already have similar rules in place. The city’s version would apply on public streets.

The bill was approved 3-0 earlier this month by the council’s recommending committee, a group that consists of three council members.

The bill also calls for a permit system to avoid confusion. RV owners could download a permit from the city website, print it out and display it on the vehicle. The dated permit would make it easier for neighbors or parking enforcement to know exactly when the RV should be moved.

The bill would limit the amount of money the city could charge for a permit to $10 or less. It also prohibits people from seeking permits for consecutive 72-hour periods.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285 .