Since we were suppliers to the industry we have seen and heard how private RV park and campground owners feel about not only the issue of government entities competing with the private sector, but how they feel with six figure rigs parking in Wal-Mart, a particularly sore spot as well.

I have always been of the opinion that there are destination RV parks and those for transients. What I as an RV owner would like to see is a safe spot to park for the night when I am traveling. Right now my options are rest areas, Wal-Mart, or campgrounds very close to the interstate that I am on. I would use the campground every single time except most are not right on the interstate and after a long day of driving I do not want to travel 2 or 3 miles down a small road in the dark. When I am done driving I want to roll to a stop and shut down.

Unfortunately, even if the campground is right at the exit I have to sign in, get the speech, be presented with site maps, plastic garbage bags, and the rest room combination. There must be a way for someone to consider my overnight stay to be parking, and just take my money.

We have seen some movement towards secure parking for RVs. Our first experience was a long time ago at a Best Western that advertised overnight parking for RVs. It was at the exit, it was well lighted, and you drove in, parked, and gave the clerk $5.00. That was the extent of it. No muss, no fuss and a safe place on private property. Apparently we were not the only ones that liked the idea because when we left the next morning there were many others, including truckers in the area.

Just like there is a big rig book, there needs to be a book listing parking. Turning the engine off and going to bed doesn't constitute camping in my opinion. So why do we need all the registration, guidance to the site, etc? I wish hotels and other private enterprises with some limited public access would provide overnight parking that would be listed in a book.