Oregon Voter Rights for Fulltimers?

With the election on everyone's mind (kind of hard to be away from your mind if you watch the news) the question of voter rights often is raised. How about fulltimers out on the road?

If you're an Oregon resident--and just what constitutes an Oregon resident is a subject taken up in the Albany Democrat Herald newspaper. Using the illustration of the Oregon resident who a decade ago sold their 'stix n brix' home, bought a motorhome, and ran off to sunny Mexico, the Democrat Herald writer points up that Oregon law still considers you an Oregon resident. What marks the point when your 'Beaver Tail' disappear? Apparently until you 'intend not to return.'

I'm not going out the limb and hand you the saw. Since the law on the Oregon books is considered a bit vague, then leave me out of it. Just read the story for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

Photo: BBC

Where Will You Get Your Driver's License in 2008?

A little publicized piece of federal legislation could create major headaches for fulltime RVers in the not-too-distant future. Called the "Real ID Act" the legislation passed in 2005 and signed by President Bush mandates that all states provide verification of all individual's identities when renewing their state-issued ID cards or driver licenses.

In addition to proving citizenship, those who renew (or apply for) state-issued cards will also need to provide proof of their principle residence address. Typically this would be in the form of a utility bill, showing the name and address of the applicant. What happens to the unnumbered masses of full time RVers who don't have utility bills because they don't have a "home" other than their wheeled residence?

We throw this one open for discussion, because like it or not, the deadline is coming up quickly. The law requires states to begin the verification process in May 2008. States may apply for an extension to December 2009 in order to prepare their agencies for the extra work. What will you do to "prove up" your residence? Without the federally sanctioned ID, you won't be able enter federal facilities, nor fly on federally regulated aircraft. While some states have decried the federal law and say they won't go along with it, it will certainly prove interesting to see how this all shakes out.

For a breakdown of information on this law, visit The National Conference of State Legislatures website. Or check out an entry in Wikipedia--but note, some dispute the neutrality of the article's contents.

Oregon Takes Dim View of Phony Resident RV Scheme

Fulltimers often ask about where to establish their "residency." If you’re on the road all the time, it’s difficult to get driver licenses, insurance, and obtain vehicle licensing. Oregon is sometimes recommended because of its low vehicle registration rates and lack of sales tax. Some folks, however, have schemed to use the low Oregon rates for their own purposes, witness the recent crackdown on an Oregon resident who "helped" folks take advantage of those attractive Oregon amenities.

After an 18 month investigation, Oregon officials charged Tualatin, Oregon resident Denise Harden with "Tampering with a Public Record," and violating the "Oregon Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization" law. Harden helped non-Oregonians to register RVs in Oregon, thus avoiding their home-state sales tax and vehicle registration fees. By allowing her "customers" to use her Oregon residence address, Harden made it appear they were Oregon residents.

Harden copped a "no contest" plea, got slapped with $100,000 fine, and was given 24 months of probation. While no information was published regarding what happened to her customers, it’s a good possibility their own home state authorities will be putting them under the microscope of justice. It goes without saying then, that if you do establish Oregon as a fulltimer "residence," be sure to put the dot over the I and the crossbar on the T with respect to legalities. In the past, Washington state residents who registered their vehicles in Oregon and were caught got slapped hard for their trouble.

This isn’t the first occasion of phony RV registration schemes. Some years back, Oregon RV dealer Gauranty RV was hit hard when company employees "sold" Oregon addresses to out-of-staters for registration purposes.