The Lewis County Board of Commissioners has approved new restrictions on RV parking and camping on county-owned land for the second time in less than a year. The move could “very well result in jail time” for violators, according to Commissioner Sean Swope.
At Tuesday’s business meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved a ban on unauthorized campers in Lewis County. Violations will now be a misdemeanor in the county, rather than a civil infraction.
The ordinance bans unauthorized camping or camping on county lands “except in areas specifically designated, designed or constructed for this purpose.”
The commissioners adopted a similar rule last October. Tuesday’s move replaces that chapter of county code with more defined restrictions, including for RVs or other motorhomes, and increases penalties for offenders.
“First and foremost, RVs are now expressly prohibited from parking in areas that aren’t either owned by the RV owner or specifically zoned for RV parking or camping,” Swope said of changes to come from this week’s decision. “Secondly, the responsibility of enforcement now rests with law enforcement agencies, as opposed to code compliance. Lastly, it’s crucial for the public to understand there’s no grace period for those parked or camped illegally under this ordinance.”
The new ordinance went into effect Wednesday and takes the potential financial penalty from $250 to a maximum of $1,00 and up to 90 days in jail if an offender is convicted of a misdemeanor, though any penalty would be decided by a judge or jury.
Following the commissioners’ vote last fall, Swope said the county has “seen a significant rise in the number of RVs.”
“Law enforcement has also had direct experiences linking certain RVs to drug-related activities,” Swope said. “Furthermore, we’ve confronted issues with unsanitary conditions, especially with human waste and littering in areas frequented by these RVs.”
A penalty would not be imposed if the violator moves “within a reasonable period of time under the circumstances” after being contacted by law enforcement, according to the ordinance. It also states law enforcement must inform a potential violator that “resources are available at a shelter located within Lewis County.”
Under the ordinance, the director of Lewis County Public Health & Social Services or a designee must notify the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office when the Salvation Army’s night-by-night shelter in Centralia or other publicly-funded shelters have five or fewer available beds.
The ordinance will not be enforced “if all of the said shelters reach full capacity” until a bed is available. The ordinance states each separate day a violation occurs could result in a separate penalty.
“I’d like to stress that our aim is to enhance private property rights at every opportunity. The state has increasingly made it challenging for law enforcement to maintain the safety of our communities,” Swope said. “This ordinance serves as an essential tool, aiding our law enforcement officers in ensuring public safety for everyone.”
During the meeting, Commissioner Lindsey Pollock said the move is a “first step” and floated the possibility of a safe park for RV campers, though she said there were no firm details to share.
“Everybody knows that the homeless problem is not an easy one to solve,” Pollock said. “We absolutely know that ‘yep, we’ve got families in RVs’ and we do need to figure out how to expand housing access in a safe manner.”
Swope on Tuesday also raised the possibility of future restrictions on organizations that offer “humanitarian services.”
“If you’re going to be an organization that offers a food box, you’re going to be required, hopefully by this policy, to offer other services,” Swope said. “If I give you a carrot, I need to give you access to the full garden. What we would like to see happen is that these service providers, that we have in our community, that they don’t just offer one thing and then just turn their backs when there are other needs like sanitary needs or a place for them to stay.”
Swope said he hopes to bring the policy to his seatmates “in a few weeks” after he receives feedback “from a few people.”
According to a summary of the policy provided by Swope, it would emphasize “a comprehensive and holistic approach to assisting the homeless and those in distress, ensuring they receive not just immediate aid but a full range of services for their overall well-being. This includes facility standards, service delivery aligned with housing codes, and a robust verification system for beneficiaries.”
“The aim is to promote responsible service provision, community integration, and the prevention of public nuisances,” Swope said in his summary.
The Salvation Army’s night-by-night shelter is located at 303 N. Gold St., Centralia.
In July, Centralia passed bans on camping on city streets and limited RV parking on a city street to 16 hours. In March, Chehalis passed a ban on camping on city property.
