Miami-Dade County is the most populous county in Florida, in which many motorists are considering sleeping in the car at some points. However, does Miami allow drivers to sleep in their cars? The law of Florida contains no special law prohibiting sleeping in your car. Before you decide to sleep in your car in Florida, however, you should first consider a few things:
Why Sleep In Your Car?
If you live in Florida or just visiting, you may want to sleep in your car because:
You Only Need To Sleep For A While.
Maybe you were traveling for hours and it started blurring around you. You need to get off the road and rest a bit, and sleeping in the car seemed safer than tired, and more practical than just being in a room for an hour or two.
You Have No Safe Or Affordable Sleeping Space.
Hotel rooms can be truly expensive, which can be an insurmountable problem if you lacked the money. Sleeping in the car is indeed better protected as well as may seem secured compared to sleeping on the Miami’s streets.
You Need Emergency Shelter To Truly Sleep.
It may be impossible to find a room late at night and without a reservation during a holiday season or an important event. Sleeping in your car seems to be the only option.
You Need To Sleep Simply Because Of Your Alcohol Intake.
If you were drunk and tired, it seems safer to sleep in your car than to drive in such situations. However, if you retain control of the vehicle, especially if the vehicle or car is on, the DUI may continue to be applied to you.
If You Need To Sleep In Your Car In Miami
In some cases, the only option seems to sleep in your car. Still, before you plan to sleep in the car here, you should note the following in Miami Dade County Florida:
Choose A Location Where Public Parking Is Allowed.
When a law enforcement officer, such as police writes a citation for a person who has slept in the car in Miami, the citation is often associated with illegal entry. If you park on private property, including a property owned by a hotel or maybe a restaurant, and then sleep in your car, you risk a charge.
Look For A Safe Spot.
While sleeping in your car provides protection, criminals can easily get into your car. Choose a safe, well lit and well-maintained place with regular patrols. Take time to check the surroundings before falling asleep. Look for signs of potential crime. If perhaps you’re in doubt, look for another location to stay as well as sleep. Big public parking places are probably better than stopping somewhere and sleeping by the side of the road.
Check The Local Regulations.
Local regulations may prohibit loitering, including sleeping in a car. These rules are generally used to prevent homeless people from staying in certain areas. However, they can also apply to you when you sleep in your car. Violations of regulation can result in fines or even imprisonment.
Do Not Leave Your Keys In The Ignition While You’re Drunk.
Should you keep your keys in the vehicle, especially at the ignition, there is a risk that you will receive a driving under the influence charge. Instead, keep your keys very safely outside of the main sections where you cannot easily access the car keys.
Finally, if perhaps a law officer arrests you for sleeping in the car in an unsafe or simply in an illegal place, just because your own circumstances required it. Talk to an experienced lawyer as soon as possible and get the legal help you need out there.