I’m planning to take big drive out of state soon.
I’m all the way down in Key West, and I’m headed a long way.
It’s going to be a big journey, and while I used to take journeys like that fairly regularly, I haven’t for a while so I’ve been wondering whether the laws have changed about sleeping in your car.
I don’t fancy paying for motels all the way down, so am I allowed to just sleep in my car as I travel?
I wasn’t sure, so I decided to look into it.
So, is it illegal to sleep in your car in Florida?
There is no state-wide law outright banning sleeping in your car in Florida. It is not a federal crime either. However, regulations do state for many cities, towns and populated areas that sleeping or resting in your car in a non-designated rest stop for more than three hours is not legal.
So, the basic answer is no, if you’re in a designated area.
Rest areas obviously have completely different rules.
Everywhere else in the state, you’re essentially under the jurisdiction of whatever local authority is closest.
They may well have specific rules about sleeping in your car.
Let’s look further into this.
What happens if you get caught sleeping in your car in Florida?
The only real answer is that it will depend.
First of all, let’s start by assuming we mean somewhere where sleeping in your car is not permitted—there are plenty of designated points where it is permitted.
However, you’re going to face the biggest problems in anywhere that is highly residential or commercial.
Obviously, you can’t park up in a residential street and sleep in your car—I say obviously in the sense that this fits into the definition we have given.
I’ll look at why exactly it’s illegal in a moment.
For the most part, though, you’re probably just going to get moved along and told to go somewhere else.
However, in certain circumstances, you may find yourself slapped with a fine, especially for repeat offences.
Law enforcement, for continuous offences, may choose to arrest you and charge you for it.
As you can imagine, though, an offence like this is far from the worst you can commit.
So, this more than other crimes will be down to the officer to make a judgement call.
So, why do we criminalize sleeping in your car like this?
Why is sleeping in your car illegal in Florida?
There is no simple answer, but similar legislation has been put in place elsewhere, and the justification usually runs along a couple of lines.
First of all, it is about safety.
Sleeping in your car is dangerous, authorities will say.
It is dangerous for the person sleeping in the car, who may well be attacked or robbed in the night.
You are rather vulnerable sleeping in a car—but I’ll get into that later.
It is also supposed to be a measure against crime from those who would essentially stake out potential burglary victims from their cars, sleep in them until the early hours, and then emerge to steal.
Naturally, all of these reasons are up for debate and interpretation.
On the other hand, critics of the measures suggest they are merely cruel and authoritarian, pointlessly penalizing the poorest and most vulnerable in society.
Either way, you can’t argue these points with a judge or a law enforcement officer—the law is the law.
So, where can you sleep in your car in Florida?
Where can I sleep in my car in Florida?
The simplest answer is any designated rest stops.
All states have these, and they are perfect for a place to stop and take a rest—you can typically park your car there for up to 8 hours to take a nap.
This is completely legal, and no one can stop you.
There are often also less defined rest areas at the side of highways, where you can park and take a break.
However, you usually can’t rest for as long in these areas, so keep that in mind.
Beyond that, if you are outside of any cities or towns, then it shouldn’t be too difficult to find somewhere secluded where you won’t be bothered.
Is sleeping in your car dangerous?
This is the question you should ask yourself, and it will depend on where you are.
It is going to be most dangerous in a city or populated area, since you are more likely to become the target of a theft.
It really depends, though.
It’s not really advisable, and as I said, I’m only planning to do so because I am going on a long drive.
Where ever you can, plan your itinerary to line up with rest stops along the way.
Planning is the key thing, as I know I’ve too often been in less than comfortable situations because I hadn’t planned anywhere to sleep.
So, unfortunately, you can’t just park up where ever you like and take a nap.
In most places with any degree of business or residential purpose, you are at the very least going to get moved along quite swiftly if you are found sleeping in your car.
Try and plan ahead of long journeys in order to make sure you don’t wind up in this situation, with nowhere else to stay.
If you can get there, there should be somewhere nearby you can sleep in your car.