How to get rid of a squatter?

Question

There is a person sleeping in a camper outside our home each night on the street in a real parking spot. He also parks on the shoulder of the street where there is no parking during times of the day when he has no parking spot. He is always there on the street nesting and it is troubling to have him see us when we come and when we go. We don't want to annoy him but we want him to camp somewhere else. How can we do this smoothly?

Answer 1

Contact your municipal office to learn if there is an ordinance covering this situation. Probably, there is.  Then make a written police report.

Answer 2

I would suggest asking a police officer if you can legally have him move on. He might just be "down on his luck" and the camper beats living on the street, or he might be secretly casing the area out .

Answer 3

I'm with you I wouldn't want to annoy him but he doesn't seem to mind annoying you.  Go to the police and have him checked out.  Don't make a complaint just ask if he is legally able to be there.  A lot of cities have laws restricting campers and where they park.

Answer 4

There are ways to get things done.  

Relax for a minute and consider what you want to get accomplished.  React thoughtfully so you don't over react.

If you want to flex your muscles and try and see what power you can bring against this street camper... that's one thing (but it is not very thoughtful.)  If on the other hand you only want him to quietly  move on that is entirely another.  Most of your answers have gone to the first rather than the second.  Answering the second will give you additional answers for the first.  So I will discuss the second.

I gather you don't know why he is there.  You should find out but I might not do so directly.  Is there someone else (an observant person) you can ask to approach him and find out?  There was a time travelers were revered as people bringing news, now we listen to Fox .  Maybe the engine is broken and he is waiting for parts and you are making him out to be a serial something or other.   Maybe he is just down on his luck and a few bucks for gas is all he needs to more on (makeing it clear that your soft speaking is indeed hiding a "big stick".)   I know that the concept is a little out of favor but you might be truely able to help someone.

Whatever it is he has reasons for being there both positive and negative.  If you can fix the negatives and make the positives less positive, being there will not be his choice.  You might take it as a challenge to get him to move on while thinking it is his decision.  (You won't be worried that he will come back in the middle of the night.)

You can always take a plate number and a story to the police.  Sometimes once the law is involved it is hard to take it back, but I think you should check out the options and make sure the vehicle is not stolen (again in a way that might not be tracable to you.)

Answer 5

You should explain carefully to him, and the town council and the highways department, and the traffic police, that the Lady of the Lake, all clad in Shimmering Samite, appeared to you in a Vision of Disturbing Beauty.  And told you that you own the ******* road.