Please note: A second press release follows the one directly below.

Escapees E-News Release

1/17/03

Montana Senate Bill Restricts Overnight RV Parking

A bill (SB171) has been introduced into the Montana Senate to stop overnight
RV parking on any public parking lot in the state. The bill was introduced by
Senator Dale Mahlum and, if passed, would severely limit RV parking outside of
established and licensed campgrounds. The bill title reads in part: “An act
providing that parcels of land principally used as parking lots must be
licensed as a campground in order to allow overnight camping.” Here is some
of the text of the bill:

Section 1. Recreational vehicles -- overnight parking prohibited unless
licensed -- signs. (1) An individual, business, corporation, association, or
other entity may not allow the overnight parking of more than two
recreational vehicles for camping and sleeping purposes on a parcel of land
principally used as a parking lot unless the parking lot qualifies for
licensure and is licensed as a campground pursuant to this part and the use
is allowed in compliance with any local zoning ordinances.

(2) An individual, business, corporation, association, or other entity
that has a parcel of land principally used as a parking lot that is not
licensed as a campground shall post signs stating that no overnight
recreational vehicle camping is allowed.

(3) An individual, business, corporation, association, or other entity
that has a parcel of land principally used as a parking lot that is licensed
as a campground shall post signs stating that the operator of a recreational
vehicle who parks the recreational vehicle overnight for camping and
sleeping purposes is subject to a lodging facility use tax as provided in
Title 15, chapter 65, part 1.

This is the first time that RVers have been faced with such a challenge on a
state level! If this legislation passes, it may well set a precedent for the
rest of the country, and we could see our freedom to choose where we park
permanently revoked! All RVers and concerned individuals need to take
immediate steps to contact the members of the Senate Business and Labor
committee as soon as possible and voice their opinions. Great haste is
needed, as the bill will be up for testimony in committee on January 23,
2003. Please make use of the contact list included below and write, call or
email right away!

Please remember that a calm, logical approach will make your letter or email
much more likely to be read and considered. Here are a couple of sample
paragraphs for you to aid you in writing your letter or email.

While RV parks are the best accommodations for RVers, sometimes commercial
parks are full, or perhaps the RVer simply cannot find a local park,
especially if it is late in the evening. Other issues come into play as
well. For instance, how tired is the RV driver? Were it not for Wal-Mart
and other similar locations that offer a resting place to RVers, you would
see an increased accident rate. Far too often, RVers will drive too long,
too late, or continue searching for an RV park way past their safety and
comfort zone. Knowing that they are welcome to pull into a parking lot and
get a few hours of rest anytime of the day or night is an enormous safety
net for the traveler.

Typically, RVers make significant contributions financially to places that
welcome them and, many times, will return to an area for an extended stay if
they have been received in a friendly manner. Unfortunately, signs banning
RVs from parking areas do not appear very friendly to the tired traveler who
is just looking for a spot to rest. Please do not implement legislation that
will send the RVing public away from your state, but rather welcome them
with open arms and show them you care about their safety and respect their
lifestyle.

Please take a moment to contact these Montana legislators and let them know
how you feel!

DALE MAHLUM (R)
Chairman, Business and Labor Committee
10955 US HIGHWAY 93 N
MISSOULA, MT 59808-9227
Home: (406)549-3115
mal51732@aol.com

MIKE SPRAGUE (R)
Vice Chairman, Business and Labor Committee
174 ERICKSON CT S
BILLINGS, MT 59105-2347
Home: (406)252-6027

SHERM ANDERSON (R)
PO BOX 311
DEER LODGE, MT 59722-0311
Home: (406)846-2353
logging@montana.com

VICKI COCCHIARELLA (D)
535 LIVINGSTON AVE
MISSOULA, MT 59801-8003
Home: (406)728-7723

KELLY GEBHARDT (R)
PO BOX 724
ROUNDUP, MT 59072-0724
Home: (406)323-1564
Bus: (406)323-2679
gebby@midrivers.com

BOB KEENAN (R)
PO BOX 697
BIGFORK, MT 59911-0697
Home: (406)837-4989
bob@bigforkinn.com

SAM KITZENBERG (R)
130 BONNIE ST APT 1
GLASGOW, MT 59230-2101
Home: (406)228-8518
Bus: (406)228-2485
sam@kitzenberg.net

KEN HANSEN (D)
PO BOX 686
HARLEM, MT 59526-0686
Home: (406)353-4941
Bus: (406)353-4941
hansen_kenneth@email.com

---

Second News Release issued same day.

More trouble brewing for RVers in Montana

As if the Senate bill, SB 171, isn’t bad enough, there is a bill (HB 314)
being proposed in the Montana House of Representatives that also seeks to
regulate RV parking. HB 314 is titled as follows:

"An act providing for the licensing and regulation by the department of
public health and human services of business establishments that allow
members of the public to park or set up their recreational vehicles on the
business establishments' parking facilities on an overnight basis."

The intention of this proposed legislation is to regulate RV parking on
public parking lots by requiring licenses, fees, permits, and Health
Department inspections. Implementation of such restrictive requirements will
effectively ban RV parking as effectively as the Senate bill, which just
makes it illegal! This one is on an even shorter fuse than SB171! The
hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2003.

Since this is so hot, either e-mail or use some of your weekend cell phone
minutes!

Contact list for House Business and Labor Committee members:

SCOTT MENDENHALL (R) HD 39 (chair)
281 MCKEOWN LANE
CARDWELL, MT 59721-9611
Home: (406)287-5285
Bus: (406)287-3282
smendenhall@ineva.com

DONALD STEINBEISSER (R) HD 100 (vice chair)
RR 1 BOX 3400
SIDNEY, MT 59270-9620
Home: (406)482-2187
donstein@midrivers.com

JIM KEANE (D) HD 36 (vice chair)
2131 WALL ST
BUTTE, MT 59701-5527
Home: (406)723-8378

BOB BERGREN (D) HD 90
1132 26TH AVENUE WEST
HAVRE, MT 59501-8609
Home: (406)265-9078
bergren@hi-line.net

ROD BITNEY (R) HD 77
PO BOX 10501
KALISPELL, MT 59904-0501
Home: (406)257-2989

SYLVIA BOOKOUT-REINICKE (R) HD 71
PO BOX 327
ALBERTON, MT 59820-0327
Home: (406)722-3344

NANCY RICE FRITZ (D) HD 69
1817 DANIEL DR
MISSOULA, MT 59802-4926
Home: (406)549-6712
ricefritz@montana.com

DAVE GALLIK (D) HD 52
120 E LYNDALE AVE
HELENA, MT 59601-2911
Home: (406)449-1366
gallik@in-tch.com

KATHLEEN GALVIN-HALCRO (D) HD 48
101 RIVERVIEW DR E
GREAT FALLS, MT 59404-1547
Home: (406)452-3356
kgalvinhalcro2@aol.com

RAY HAWK (R) HD 62
NW 4878 HOBLITT LANE
FLORENCE, MT 59833-6832
Home: (406)777-5120
bigbird@bigsky.net

BOB LAWSON (R) HD 80
PO BOX 686
WHITEFISH, MT 59937-0686
Home: (406)862-2737
Bus: (406)862-2737

RICK MAEDJE (R) HD 81
PO BOX 447
FORTINE, MT 59918-0447
Home: (406)882-4376
mtrep81@yahoo.com

GARY MATTHEWS (D) HD 4
1708 MAIN ST
MILES CITY, MT 59301-3652
Home: (406)234-5696
matthews@midrivers.com

PENNY MORGAN (R) HD 21
3401 WATERLOO CIRCLE
BILLINGS, MT 591018000
Home: (406)652-1514
Bus: (406)256-0080
pennyouac@cs.com

ALLEN ROME (R) HD 56
748 DANA LN
GARRISON, MT 59731-9737
Home: (406)846-2570
Bus: (406)846-2461
cutterrome@aol.com

SANDY WEISS (D) HD 13
PO BOX 1173
BILLINGS, MT 59103-1173
Home: (406)652-3517
Bus: (406)248-1154
weissforhd13@hotmail.com

BILL WILSON (D) HD 46
1305 2ND AVENUE N
GREAT FALLS, MT 59401-3282
Home: (406)868-2384