Influx of RVs on Salinas streets

Recreational Vehicles have been driven out of Lapis Road along Highway 1 near Marina. They also can no longer park in Chinatown overnight. These changes have resulted in a visible increase of RVs along Salinas streets.

“We’ve been noticing an influx of recreation vehicles parked in residential areas and commercial areas. We have seen some residual coming from other cities ,” said Senior Code Enforcement Officer Lorenzo Sanchez

Most RVs are found around industrial areas, however they are now just about everywhere, from grocery store parking lots to busy streets.

“We are pretty lenient with it and they don’t bother us and we don’t bother them. We sometimes help them out,” said Bermudez.

Geovanni Bermudez has owned and operated his business on Sanborn Place for the past 20 years, the area also happens to be a popular spot to park motorhomes.

“We’ve had problems looking for our own parking here and sometimes they even park in our lot. But if they park in other places, other businesses actually call parking enforcement,” said Bermudez.

The ordinance regarding recreational vehicles is very clear. You can only be parked out on the roadway for 72 hours, which is why you often see people moving from one spot to the next.

“We don’t stay in one spot for so long, sometimes it’s just a spot that hasn’t been blown up and not as many staying there. For the most part its just basically until somebody complains,” said Danny Henderson.

Henderson said that’s why they steer clear of residential neighborhoods.

“You want to avoid places where people are going to complain about. And in residential you’re basically in their own backyard,” said Henderson.

Senior Code Enforcement Officer, Lorenzo Sanchez said being homeless is not a crime, it’s the activities that often come along with it.

“The theft, the prostitution, the drugs and the lack of restrooms,” said Sanchez

Griffin Street near the 101 is a prime example of why not having proper restrooms or places to dispose of trash is critical, as this popular parking area is right next to a drainage ditch.

“We encourage the public to let us know where these recreational vehicles are and abandoned vehicles are, so the city can act properly and efficiently,” said Sanchez.

If you want to report a vehicle, here’s a link on how to do so:
https://www.salinaspd.com/content/abandoned-vehicles