Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

by Jessica Bruder

Bob also emphasized: police were not always the enemy. Some vandwellers and RVers recounted getting “the knock” from concerned officers who just wanted to ask if they were alright. There were reports from one vandweller in Ohio about a friendly cop who sometimes brought her coffee. By researching a town in advance or talking to other vandwellers, you could learn a great deal about local attitudes. In friendly places, the best choice might be going straight to the police station, telling a hard luck story, and asking where in town it would be safe to park overnight. And remember: No matter how sneaky you’re being, it’s quite likely the local police are aware of your presence. “Cops are pretty smart. They’re going to realize something’s up if you’ve been ‘just passing through’ for the past six months.” Everyone recognized, however, that it was often preferable to avoid police altogether. Some had clever ways of doing it. One vandweller online talked about installing a police scanner app on his smartphone. By listening to chatter on the local law enforcement channels, he could determine if anyone had reported him for illegal camping and get away before the cops showed up. And it had another purpose, too. If hooligans approached, he could scare them off by playing the police radio loudly, with all its static and squelches, to make his rig sound like an undercover law enforcement vehicle.