"No Camping" signs means you're encouraged to camp there?
Krusty said
10:56 AM Mar 14, 2016
After reading the lead article in the Grey Nomad Times it appears that No Camping Signs mean please camp here.
A representative of the Roads and Marine Services states that No Camping signs means you're encouraged to Camp there for a non specific period but not several days.
Surely it would cause less confusion if the sign just said camping allowed for 72 hours etc.
This type of logic hurts my Brain.
Krusty.
Yuglamron said
11:01 AM Mar 14, 2016
Agree totally. What about all the advice "If you are tired pull over and have a sleep?"
The other one that irks are for those with bigger rigs that need MR and HR licences.
Law,at least in Qld states that you must you use the truck stops as you are in a different weight category and you cannot park in a town for more than an hour.
Bruce and Bev said
11:33 AM Mar 14, 2016
Hi Krusty. Didn't read the article and deleted that issue of the "Times".
What State did that sign refer to?
As you say - totally stupid and a time limit sign would be sensible - but since when were public servants sensible...........
Krusty said
01:15 PM Mar 14, 2016
Hi Bruce and Bev,
The signs they are putting up say "No Camping" that's it. Nothing more.
People are getting confused and not stopping because they think No Camping means... Well... No Camping. :)
The powers that be say they are wrong... No Camping obviously means you can camp there for several days. I'm such a Dummy. :)
Krusty.
Krusty said
01:18 PM Mar 14, 2016
Oh and it was NSW I think, something about WA & QLD as well but I can't remember what it said exactly. I've deleted it as well now as I've filed it with all the other "The Worlds Gone Mad stuff"
Philw said
10:32 PM Mar 14, 2016
Now I'm totally confused???? Maybe a bex and a lie down might help. Perhaps in a no camping area.
Bruce and Bev said
01:56 AM Mar 15, 2016
Haha Phil - yep, a great place to rest up and contemplate ones navel and the mysterious ways that our State govts, councils and shires operate (well, kinda operate in an odd sort of way)
dorian said
09:38 AM Mar 15, 2016
Q: When you say "no", do you really mean "yes"?
A: No.
Aus-Kiwi said
10:13 AM Mar 15, 2016
Well ? The way I look at it is . You can park .. But Connot camp as in pitching a tent or setting up annex etc .. I have had no issue . Although I tend not to park in popular sea from areas ..
madaboutled said
10:37 AM Mar 15, 2016
IMHO, Unfortunately our law makers here in Australia, tend to refer to US Based definitions when it comes to making signs designed to confuse us.
In the US English Oxford Dictionary "camping" is defined as:
The activity spending a vacation living in a camp, tent, or camper: 'visitors can go camping in the vast wilderness surrounding the mountains'
Where as the British Oxford English Dictionary definition is:
The activity of spending a holiday living in a tent
To add to the confusion the Collins Dictionary's definition is a bit more complex but does give some meanings that could be used to challenge the No Camping rules:
noun a place where tents, cabins, or other temporary structures are erected for the use of military troops, for training soldiers, etc the military life tents, cabins, etc, used as temporary lodgings by a group of travellers, holiday-makers, Scouts, etc the group of people living in such lodgings (South Africa) a field or paddock fenced off as pasture a group supporting a given doctrine or theory â the socialist camp (Australian) a place where sheep or cattle gather to rest (modifier) suitable for use in temporary quarters, on holiday, etc, esp by being portable and easy to set up â a camp bed, â a camp chair verb (intransitive) often foll by down to establish or set up a camp (intransitive) often foll by out to live temporarily in or as if in a tent (transitive) to put in a camp
So, perhaps a defence to rangers or other authorities might be to firstly establish which dictionary was used to define the word "Camping" then apply the appropriate response:
US Oxford English Dictionary; "But this is ustralia mate, we use the British dictionary here not the yankie one"
British Oxford English Dictionary; "WTF, does this look like a tent to you?"
Collins dictionary; "Look, I'm a bit sheepish at the moment, and I've gathered here with my herd to rest!"
All jokes aside, if we see a "No Camping" sign we move on, but if we only see a sign depicting the symbol of a tent with a line through it, then we might stay because it's obvious we are not in a tent.
Krusty said
10:45 AM Mar 15, 2016
The way I read it was that the Govt authority didn't care whether you're in a tent, caravan, motor home etc. No Camping = No Living there. You're fine camping in a No Camping area for "several days"? But after that... Not so much. So... Camping is defined as being stopped in the one place for more than "several days".
Tony Bev said
10:55 AM Mar 15, 2016
Krusty wrote:
After reading the lead article in the Grey Nomad Times it appears that No Camping Signs mean please camp here. A representative of the Roads and Marine Services states that No Camping signs means you're encouraged to Camp there for a non specific period but not several days. Surely it would cause less confusion if the sign just said camping allowed for 72 hours etc. This type of logic hurts my Brain. Krusty.
Hello Krusty
I was unable to find this story, on the Grey Nomads main site
Could you put up a link to it please, or is the Grey Nomad Times a seperate publication
Thanking you in advance
Krusty said
11:11 AM Mar 15, 2016
The Grey Nomad Times is a online newspaper type of thing. It comes to me as an email with a PFD to click on every month with lots of interesting articles. Not sure where it comes from? Magic Maybe?
Aus-Kiwi said
11:14 AM Mar 15, 2016
I guess it's there to get unwanted people out of parking areas .. ??
I must say that this article is very, very confusing to me. I have always understood that aNo Camping sign, means that I am not allowed to stay overnight.
Not being a legal minded person, but I am aware that ignorance of the law is no excuse. I believe that it would be extremely difficult to convince any type of Ranger, earning their keep, that theNo Camping sign, means that I can stay overnight
I have personally never come across a free camp spot, where there was no room for one more, and that a motorist had nowhere to rest for a while.
On the other hand I have never attempted to stop within a built up area.
rockylizard said
01:14 PM Mar 15, 2016
Gday...
Unfortunately, Tony, there are hundreds of "rest areas" up and down the east coast - particularly near the beaches - that get utilised fully by the "travelling public".
And that utilisation is not to just pull up late arvo, have a bitta tucker, a snooze, and head off early the next day.
Here is one such example ... and there's not much room for that "one extra vehicle -
It is little wonder that the 'authorities' take action to curb over usage.
Having said that, having a "No Camping" sign that supposedly really means "Well, overnight if you must!" is just plain ludicrous.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Tuesday 15th of March 2016 01:15:12 PM
Later issues require some additional editing, or one could use alternative software to achieve the same end.
Tony Bev said
05:35 PM Mar 15, 2016
rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Unfortunately, Tony, there are hundreds of "rest areas" up and down the east coast - particularly near the beaches - that get utilised fully by the "travelling public".
And that utilisation is not to just pull up late arvo, have a bitta tucker, a snooze, and head off early the next day.
Here is one such example ... and there's not much room for that "one extra vehicle -
It is little wonder that the 'authorities' take action to curb over usage.
Having said that, having a "No Camping" sign that supposedly really means "Well, overnight if you must!" is just plain ludicrous.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Tuesday 15th of March 2016 01:15:12 PM
Hello rockylizard
I now see the problem, (I learned something new today), so thanks for that
I had only ever been along the East Coast while car and motel holidaying around 2005, and in all honesty took no interest in long distance caravanning, at that time.
While long distance caravanning, I was advised by many seasoned travellers on the road, to give the East Coast a miss. The consensus by many was that the free camps were, few and far between, and always full, plus the Rangers were continually moving people on.
I am fortunate that the built up areas hold no interest for me, at this point in time.
Later issues require some additional editing, or one could use alternative software to achieve the same end.
Hello dorian
I appreciate the fact that you have spent time searching for this information, so many thanks for that
I now apologise for going a little off topic
Also as you appear to be a Computer Guru, and would know where to look, have you ever received an email from me, as I have replied to more than one of your posts, but have never sent an email to any of the Forum members
Thanking you in advance for looking at your logs
hokianga said
06:56 PM Mar 15, 2016
I usually used my camps 6 book when free camping and never had any problems, this is an interesting topic i wonder how many nomads have challenged a ranger telling them to move on?
KFT said
08:55 PM Mar 15, 2016
In NSW particularly with respect to the Pacific hwy on the east coast, we often overnighted in a rest area when fatigue started to show itself.
I did write to NSWRMS about the length of stay in rest areas and received the following response:
Thank you for your enquiry to Roads and Maritime Services about the use of rest areas in NSW.
Roads and Maritime Services supports the Centre for Road Safety campaign to Rest Revive and Survive, and acknowledges that long distance drivers do need to take regular short breaks in order to avoid fatigue.
To encourage drivers to take regular short breaks, Roads and Maritime has provided rest areas along major transport corridors in NSW. Roads and Maritime also has no objection to rest areas being used as picnic areas and has provided BBQ facilities at some locations.
Unfortunately, some rest areas in NSW are being used as holiday camping grounds, with some visitors setting up camp for consecutive days. This behaviour limits the parking that should be available to, and is required by, other drivers who may need to take a short break.
As a general rule, Roads and Maritime has no objection to drivers taking a short break of up to 24 hours in a rest area, to ensure a driver has had sufficient rest before recommencing their journey. This is generally consistent with other States.
However, Roads and Maritime would encourage long distance motorists seeking overnight stays or breaks longer than 24 hours to plan their journeys in advance and consider staying at commercial camping grounds or venues with the appropriate amenities to meet their needs.
At locations where motorists have been observed staying longer than 24 hours in a rest area, Roads and Maritime has placed No Camping signs to remind visitors they are in a designated Rest Area and not a Camping Area. This is intended to maximise access to rest areas for all road users.
In light of the concerns you and other customers have raised regarding the restricted use of rest areas, we are currently developing a policy response that will provide clarity for motorists.
I hope that helps clear up any misunderstandings about overnight stays in NSW rest areas.
Frank
dorian said
07:31 AM Mar 16, 2016
Tony Bev wrote:
have you ever received an email from me, as I have replied to more than one of your posts, but have never sent an email to any of the Forum members
The last PM in my inbox is from July 2015 and I don't see any from you.
BTW, I'm using Win98SE on a 16-year-old PC (my brother reckons it's made of wood). I'm also still using a Nokia 1600 sillyphone, and I'm driving a 20-year old Toyota. The WGET batch routine uses technology that dates back to MS-DOS 6.22. If you need help with Windows or Linux, I don't think I'm the person to ask.
Tony Bev said
11:53 AM Mar 16, 2016
dorian wrote:
Tony Bev wrote:
have you ever received an email from me, as I have replied to more than one of your posts, but have never sent an email to any of the Forum members
The last PM in my inbox is from July 2015 and I don't see any from you.
BTW, I'm using Win98SE on a 16-year-old PC (my brother reckons it's made of wood). I'm also still using a Nokia 1600 sillyphone, and I'm driving a 20-year old Toyota. The WGET batch routine uses technology that dates back to MS-DOS 6.22. If you need help with Windows or Linux, I don't think I'm the person to ask.
Hello dorian
Thank you for that reply, and I do appreciate that you had taken the time to look through your emails
I was just a little concerned as another forum member, may have been thinking, that my computer has a virus, as he received a noreply from the forum with my name attached.
All is well which ends well
Sorry to everyone if this has gone a bit off topic
Krusty said
12:11 PM Mar 16, 2016
Thanks KFT for that. I hope they are still developing the policy and this confusing turn of events is not "the policy". I still assert that 24hrs limit sign would make more sense, be easier to police, and less confusing than the, "No Camping" sign that means you are quite welcome to camp for "several days".
Tony Bev said
12:13 PM Mar 16, 2016
KFT wrote:
In NSW particularly with respect to the Pacific hwy on the east coast, we often overnighted in a rest area when fatigue started to show itself.
I did write to NSWRMS about the length of stay in rest areas and received the following response:
Thank you for your enquiry to Roads and Maritime Services about the use of rest areas in NSW. Roads and Maritime Services supports the Centre for Road Safety campaign to Rest Revive and Survive, and acknowledges that long distance drivers do need to take regular short breaks in order to avoid fatigue.
To encourage drivers to take regular short breaks, Roads and Maritime has provided rest areas along major transport corridors in NSW. Roads and Maritime also has no objection to rest areas being used as picnic areas and has provided BBQ facilities at some locations.
Unfortunately, some rest areas in NSW are being used as holiday camping grounds, with some visitors setting up camp for consecutive days. This behaviour limits the parking that should be available to, and is required by, other drivers who may need to take a short break.
As a general rule, Roads and Maritime has no objection to drivers taking a short break of up to 24 hours in a rest area, to ensure a driver has had sufficient rest before recommencing their journey. This is generally consistent with other States.
However, Roads and Maritime would encourage long distance motorists seeking overnight stays or breaks longer than 24 hours to plan their journeys in advance and consider staying at commercial camping grounds or venues with the appropriate amenities to meet their needs.
At locations where motorists have been observed staying longer than 24 hours in a rest area, Roads and Maritime has placed No Camping signs to remind visitors they are in a designated Rest Area and not a Camping Area. This is intended to maximise access to rest areas for all road users.
In light of the concerns you and other customers have raised regarding the restricted use of rest areas, we are currently developing a policy response that will provide clarity for motorists.
I hope that helps clear up any misunderstandings about overnight stays in NSW rest areas.
Frank
Hello KFT
Thank you for that information
Unfortunately to a simple minded person, such as myself, it is only as clear as mud.
I can visualise a traveller, (in NSW), telling other travellers, with genuine belief, that they can all stay at that particular (No Camping sign) place overnight.
I can also visualise a local Ranger, carrying out his duties, and booking them all at 5 am the next morning.
Six months ago, another traveller on the road, told me that he had just been booked for staying overnight, in/near Broom in WA. He did not mention the exact spot. It therefore must be different here in the west, although people do say that the vehicle number plate for Broom is BM, which in travellers speak means Big Money
Aus-Kiwi said
01:05 PM Mar 16, 2016
If you stay a little back and out of the way overnight ? I've never had an issue . In the morning we park closer if we want . I guess a hippi looking VW Kombi draws more attention than a 20 ft van though ?
Fringe Dweller said
03:45 PM Mar 16, 2016
NO . No camping . Means - NO Camping. Why try to sugarcoat it.
I have Camps 7 . I read maps VERY Well, not to good on th technogizzmo's,
like gps's & the like , even with a paper map I can find a Camping area without trying
to camp in a rest area.
Richo.
Krusty said
04:13 PM Mar 16, 2016
That's the point of this topic Fringe Dweller. The Govt Dept in charge of these Rest Areas clearly state "No Camping" signs mean we "Want" you to Camp here!! Your point that No Camping means No Camping is incorrect. It's Ridiculous I know.
Agree totally. What about all the advice "If you are tired pull over and have a sleep?"
The other one that irks are for those with bigger rigs that need MR and HR licences.
Law,at least in Qld states that you must you use the truck stops as you are in a different weight category and you cannot park in a town for more than an hour.
What State did that sign refer to?
As you say - totally stupid and a time limit sign would be sensible - but since when were public servants sensible...........
A: No.
IMHO, Unfortunately our law makers here in Australia, tend to refer to US Based definitions when it comes to making signs designed to confuse us.
In the US English Oxford Dictionary "camping" is defined as:
The activity spending a vacation living in a camp, tent, or camper:
'visitors can go camping in the vast wilderness surrounding the mountains'
Where as the British Oxford English Dictionary definition is:
The activity of spending a holiday living in a tent
To add to the confusion the Collins Dictionary's definition is a bit more complex but does give some meanings that could be used to challenge the No Camping rules:
noun
a place where tents, cabins, or other temporary structures are erected for the use of military troops, for training soldiers, etc
the military life
tents, cabins, etc, used as temporary lodgings by a group of travellers, holiday-makers, Scouts, etc
the group of people living in such lodgings
(South Africa) a field or paddock fenced off as pasture
a group supporting a given doctrine or theory â the socialist camp
(Australian) a place where sheep or cattle gather to rest
(modifier) suitable for use in temporary quarters, on holiday, etc, esp by being portable and easy to set up â a camp bed, â a camp chair
verb
(intransitive) often foll by down to establish or set up a camp
(intransitive) often foll by out to live temporarily in or as if in a tent
(transitive) to put in a camp
So, perhaps a defence to rangers or other authorities might be to firstly establish which dictionary was used to define the word "Camping" then apply the appropriate response:
US Oxford English Dictionary; "But this is ustralia mate, we use the British dictionary here not the yankie one"
British Oxford English Dictionary; "WTF, does this look like a tent to you?"
Collins dictionary; "Look, I'm a bit sheepish at the moment, and I've gathered here with my herd to rest!"
All jokes aside, if we see a "No Camping" sign we move on, but if we only see a sign depicting the symbol of a tent with a line through it, then we might stay because it's obvious we are not in a tent.
Hello Krusty
I was unable to find this story, on the Grey Nomads main site
Could you put up a link to it please, or is the Grey Nomad Times a seperate publication
Thanking you in advance
Seems strange to me that the main Grey Nomad's website doesn't have an obvious page or link listing all the past newsletters like other sites do.
Hello goannaway, and madaboutled
Thanks to both of you for that link.
I must say that this article is very, very confusing to me. I have always understood that a sign, means that I am not allowed to stay overnight.
Not being a legal minded person, but I am aware that ignorance of the law is no excuse.
I believe that it would be extremely difficult to convince any type of Ranger, earning their keep, that the sign, means that I can stay overnight
I have personally never come across a free camp spot, where there was no room for one more, and that a motorist had nowhere to rest for a while.
On the other hand I have never attempted to stop within a built up area.
Gday...
Unfortunately, Tony, there are hundreds of "rest areas" up and down the east coast - particularly near the beaches - that get utilised fully by the "travelling public".
And that utilisation is not to just pull up late arvo, have a bitta tucker, a snooze, and head off early the next day.
Here is one such example ... and there's not much room for that "one extra vehicle
-
It is little wonder that the 'authorities' take action to curb over usage.
Having said that, having a "No Camping" sign that supposedly really means "Well, overnight if you must!" is just plain ludicrous.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Tuesday 15th of March 2016 01:15:12 PM
They're all here (except for the most recent one):
http://www.thegreynomads.com.au/newsletter-signup/
Here is how to download issues 1 to 47 in batch mode:
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/mobile.spark?p=topic&topic=53972208
Later issues require some additional editing, or one could use alternative software to achieve the same end.
Hello rockylizard
I now see the problem, (I learned something new today), so thanks for that
I had only ever been along the East Coast while car and motel holidaying around 2005, and in all honesty took no interest in long distance caravanning, at that time.
While long distance caravanning, I was advised by many seasoned travellers on the road, to give the East Coast a miss. The consensus by many was that the free camps were, few and far between, and always full, plus the Rangers were continually moving people on.
I am fortunate that the built up areas hold no interest for me, at this point in time.
Hello dorian
I appreciate the fact that you have spent time searching for this information, so many thanks for that
I now apologise for going a little off topic
Also as you appear to be a Computer Guru, and would know where to look, have you ever received an email from me, as I have replied to more than one of your posts, but have never sent an email to any of the Forum members
Thanking you in advance for looking at your logs
I did write to NSWRMS about the length of stay in rest areas and received the following response:
Thank you for your enquiry to Roads and Maritime Services about the use of rest areas in NSW.
Roads and Maritime Services supports the Centre for Road Safety campaign to Rest Revive and Survive, and acknowledges that long distance drivers do need to take regular short breaks in order to avoid fatigue.
To encourage drivers to take regular short breaks, Roads and Maritime has provided rest areas along major transport corridors in NSW. Roads and Maritime also has no objection to rest areas being used as picnic areas and has provided BBQ facilities at some locations.
Unfortunately, some rest areas in NSW are being used as holiday camping grounds, with some visitors setting up camp for consecutive days. This behaviour limits the parking that should be available to, and is required by, other drivers who may need to take a short break.
As a general rule, Roads and Maritime has no objection to drivers taking a short break of up to 24 hours in a rest area, to ensure a driver has had sufficient rest before recommencing their journey. This is generally consistent with other States.
However, Roads and Maritime would encourage long distance motorists seeking overnight stays or breaks longer than 24 hours to plan their journeys in advance and consider staying at commercial camping grounds or venues with the appropriate amenities to meet their needs.
At locations where motorists have been observed staying longer than 24 hours in a rest area, Roads and Maritime has placed No Camping signs to remind visitors they are in a designated Rest Area and not a Camping Area. This is intended to maximise access to rest areas for all road users.
In light of the concerns you and other customers have raised regarding the restricted use of rest areas, we are currently developing a policy response that will provide clarity for motorists.
I hope that helps clear up any misunderstandings about overnight stays in NSW rest areas.
Frank
The last PM in my inbox is from July 2015 and I don't see any from you.
BTW, I'm using Win98SE on a 16-year-old PC (my brother reckons it's made of wood). I'm also still using a Nokia 1600 sillyphone, and I'm driving a 20-year old Toyota. The WGET batch routine uses technology that dates back to MS-DOS 6.22. If you need help with Windows or Linux, I don't think I'm the person to ask.
Hello dorian
Thank you for that reply, and I do appreciate that you had taken the time to look through your emails
I was just a little concerned as another forum member, may have been thinking, that my computer has a virus, as he received a noreply from the forum with my name attached.
All is well which ends well
Sorry to everyone if this has gone a bit off topic
Hello KFT
Thank you for that information
Unfortunately to a simple minded person, such as myself, it is only as clear as mud.
I can visualise a traveller, (in NSW), telling other travellers, with genuine belief, that they can all stay at that particular (No Camping sign) place overnight.
I can also visualise a local Ranger, carrying out his duties, and booking them all at 5 am the next morning.
Six months ago, another traveller on the road, told me that he had just been booked for staying overnight, in/near Broom in WA. He did not mention the exact spot. It therefore must be different here in the west, although people do say that the vehicle number plate for Broom is BM, which in travellers speak means Big Money
NO . No camping . Means - NO Camping. Why try to sugarcoat it.
I have Camps 7 . I read maps VERY Well, not to good on th technogizzmo's,
like gps's & the like , even with a paper map I can find a Camping area without trying
to camp in a rest area.
Richo.