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Committee probes rising number of parked campers, RVs and boats; city weighing ordinance, storage and towing options
Summary
Councilors and the police chief reviewed policies for handling campers, RVs, boats and trailers left on New Bedford streets. The police reported dozens of units found, with 18 towed and 11 sent for destruction; the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management uses South Coast Towing to destroy units at about $100 per foot. The committee asked city
The New Bedford City Council Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods on Aug. 19 heard extended discussion about campers, recreational vehicles, boats and trailers left on city streets, the public‑safety and access problems they can cause, and possible municipal responses including new ordinances, storage solutions and a city tow yard.
Why it matters: residents and councilors said oversized or long‑term parked units reduce roadway clearance, impede emergency and school buses and create quality‑of‑life concerns in neighborhoods. Committee members pressed administration and police staff for options that would give enforcement “teeth” while allowing for compassionate outreach to people living in vehicles.
What officials reported: Police officials told the committee they had identified 46 campers/boats on city streets; 23 of those remain in place and registered, 18 had been towed, 11 were sent for destruction and seven were pending pickup. Police said some units were cited for generator noise and that officers keep records in a spreadsheet. “Of the 46 of the campers and or boats that they have found out there, there are 23 that are still active,” Police Chief Thode said. “We’ve towed a total of 18. We’ve sent 11 for destruction, and we have currently 7 that are pending pickup.”
City operations and costs: Deputy officials from the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management (DFFM) said DFFM arranges towing and destruction of oversized units through South Coast Towing; the demolition cost is currently about $100 per foot and that expense is coming from DFFM’s budget. “They work with South Coast Towing. South Coast Towing arranges for the destruction and it costs $100 per foot,” Assistant Deputy Chief Carolla said on the record.
Legal and enforcement limits: Solicitor’s staff and committee members noted state law generally permits a registered, insured vehicle on a public street, which constrains immediate removal absent another violation (noise, safety hazard, lack of attachment to a towing vehicle). Councilors asked the committee to pursue an ordinance that would limit how long campers can remain parked in one place, create special‑permit exceptions for temporary guests, and clarify when an unattached trailer is subject to immediate towing. Attorney David Geratowsky (city solicitor’s office) was asked to draft an ordinance to prevent overnight camping on city streets; the committee later tabled that motion to allow review alongside an existing, broader draft ordinance.
Budget and storage challenges: Councilors and the police asked whether a municipal tow yard would be feasible; Chief Thode and staff said the city would need to analyze the return on investment, upfront costs for tow trucks and staffing, and space for storage. Committee members also asked purchasing and DFFM whether an RFP for third‑party storage and demolition had moved forward; councilors asked that the mayor’s chief of staff, Neil Mello, be invited to the next session because the administration had agreed to take responsibility for circulating a response.
Committee action and next steps: the item (motion 2) was removed from the table for discussion. The committee voted to receive a communication on file from the mayor’s office and to keep the issue on the table for further drafting. Councilors asked the solicitor’s office to draft ordinance language that would restrict overnight parking of campers and to coordinate that work with related city code updates on oversized and commercial vehicles. The motion to draft an ordinance was tabled so it can be folded into an existing, broader ordinance effort being prepared by the solicitor. Committee members also requested follow‑up on costs to demolish units and a status update on any RFPs for tow-and‑store services.
Ending: The committee did not adopt a new ordinance at the Aug. 19 meeting. Staff from DFFM, purchasing and the mayor’s office were asked to appear at the committee’s next meeting with cost estimates, the status of any RFP, and proposed draft ordinance language. Councilors also flagged the need for continued outreach to people living in vehicles so enforcement does not simply displace vulnerable residents without housing alternatives.
