[pct-l] TEHACHAPI PASS PARKING WARNING

[Phil Baily]

Section E ends and Section F starts in Tehachapi Pass at the Cameron 
Road exit from Highway 58. It is a natural place to leave a car at 
the beginning or end of a section hike. There is a large level 
gravel/dirt area between Cameron Road and the railroad tracks. There 
are two gravel/dirt entrances from Cameron Road to this area. There 
are old railroad track pieces on the railroad track side of the area 
paralleling the real railroad tracks. These appear to provide a 
border for a parking area. If you don't like having your car towed, 
DO NOT PARK HERE.

Here is how it worked in our case:
         We left a car in that area for transportation when we 
finished our hike. Within an hour or two, someone filed a "complaint" 
with the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The CHP came out the next 
day, looked the situation over, tagged the car, and authorized a 
towing company to remove the "abandoned" car 72 hours after the time 
of the initial complaint. At that time (within an hour or two) the 
towing company towed the car. Retrieval of the car meant paying a 
$140 towing fee.
         Possible complications if you park there:
                 1. If the car is kept longer, there is also a daily 
storage fee.
                 2. The car must be retrieved by the registered 
owner. (A spouse does not qualify.) The CHP can negotiate or order 
(It is not clear which.) release of the car once they receive a fax 
of a power of attorney from the registered owner.
                 3. The towing company yard has a sign that lists 
hours as: M-F 9-5, Sat, Sun by appointment. There is also a fee for 
weekend release of the car.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO PARK HERE.

Questions raised by this incident:
         1. Who posted the "complaint?"
         2. Would prior notification of the CHP of intent, including 
pick-up date, result in avoidance of these events? Would a note on 
the dashboard have changed the situation, other than encouraging thieves?
         3. Would the situation be any different in the small area 
north of Highway 58?
         4. Are the same rules applicable, if someone wants to 
enforce things this way, in other trailhead areas with unsigned 
apparent parking areas?
         5. What about signed areas? After all, similar rules do 
apply on city streets and nothing was said about this being private 
property. (I do not know whether it is private or public land.)
         6. Does anyone know of a nearby area where cars can be left 
without this unpleasantness?
If anyone knows the answers to any of these questions, I would 
appreciate hearing from you. However, I am not trying to encourage 
speculation about what the rules might or should be. I have 
speculated a lot the last few days, and there are better uses for this forum.

Pieces