Tent camping?

S

Seven Bridges Angler

New Member
Mar 14, 2008
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Glen Rock NJ/ Tuckerton NJ/ Param OH
Hey guys is there any kind of rules prohibiting camping in tents. not in a campground basically out in the middle of no where. I'm guessing there is as we all know jersey the nanny state. Just figured i'd ask. I figure if i'm far enough off trail no-one will know i'm there anyway. Has anyone else done this?
 
Allow me to add that it depends on where you do it. Much of the land is private, so Rangers are not a problem anyway. The owners often live elsewhere.
 
bruset said:
Yes. If you get caught camping in an area not designated as a campground, you'll be harassed by the rangers. That said, that's only if you get caught.
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Harassed, and "ticketed." I've been approached by rangers while nature recording, but not camping, and that was fine. I had a tent set up in an undesignated spot years back, and that was fined. :)
 
Just make sure you are where nobody goes and far enough away from anyone that they can't hear you. I would think twice about a fire if you don't want to get caught.

Guy
 
Ya pretty much what i figured be as carbon neutral as possible. and stay far off path and i should be alright. I'm still in ohio for school, but figured i'd find out before i came home. While i'm here. I remember a thread a while back about a more primative style campground is there any in the pine barrens. possibly something where the camp sites are a litle further apart from eachother, where fires and such are aloud?
 
What exactly is the "legal" definition of camping anyway? I mean there is no law against being in the woods all night, you can drive, hike, take photos, or hunt (fox and coon) to your hearts content. Is it sleeping in the woods? No one is going to get a ticket for taking a nap beside the trail in the middle of the day. So it must be sleeping in the woods at night. Or is it setting up a tent? What about a hammock or bivy sack? Does anyone know where to look up the exact legal definition as per the State of New Jersey?
 
grendel said:
What exactly is the "legal" definition of camping anyway? I mean there is no law against being in the woods all night, you can drive, hike, take photos, or hunt (fox and coon) to your hearts content. Is it sleeping in the woods? No one is going to get a ticket for taking a nap beside the trail in the middle of the day. So it must be sleeping in the woods at night. Or is it setting up a tent? What about a hammock or bivy sack? Does anyone know where to look up the exact legal definition as per the State of New Jersey?
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I don't know whether there's a "legal" definition, but I am going to go with: establishing a shelter or sleeping place for the purpose of staying the night. Also, ditto what Guy said about the fire. I think a fire will draw attention pretty quickly.
 
The New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) is diificult to find online and is not published by the State online in its entirety in any place I am aware of.
It contains most of your do's and don'ts for everyday living and breathing.
Fortunately, there are outside legal resources, some are free (free is good), that publish the code. Lexisnexis michie.com is a good start. I use these resources in work quite a bit.
NJSA, which is New Jersey Statutes Annotated, is available on the State's legislature website.
That site will make your head explode and make you an angry person, as far as search and navigation.

Here is your NJAC 7:2 definition of camping and the link to same:

"Camping" means the temporary placing of a tent, shelter, lean-to, sleeping bag, bedding material, or recreational mobile camping units of any type, on State Park Service property for sleeping overnight in an outdoor setting.

http://www.michie.com/newjersey/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=

By the by, here is the definition of where you can and can't operate a motor vehicle on land under the control of Parks and Forestry.

http://www.michie.com/newjersey/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=

No mention of roads "shown on a USGS quad map" as Ben was told by a ranger.
Sort of like the $50,000 fine for killing a praying mantis. Just not written down anywhere.

Here is your starting point for NJAC:
http://michie.lexisnexis.com/newjersey/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=uanjadmin
Enjoy.
Scott
You're welcome.
:)
 
bruset said:
Scott,
Your links don't work! :(
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I got all kind a stuff. Not sure what I'm reading, kinda like going in word circles and I'm no legal sort but the links did get me somewhere.
Guess if nothing else I'll bone up on Casino's regulations. It's in there, along with Equine advisory board rules if anyone's interested.

g.
 
The links work okay for me. You have to click on the folder to the left and then click on whatever pops up. The use of Motor vehicle regs I have read before and remain very vague ("public roads") That certainly leaves alot of subjectivity.

Interesting is the speed limit. 20MPH on dirt roads.

Jeff
 
bruset said:
Scott,

Your links don't work! :(
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Ben,
Maybe that's what I get for posting links to a "free" resource. :)
I can't figure out what is wrong. They aren't working for me either.
In work I used the Rutgers Law Library to link to it and never had a problem.
You can still go to the Rutgers link but you still end up on Michie.
Interestingly michie.com does not get you anywhere right now as it shows recent amendments to the site and no NJ information.

Try this circuitous route:
1. Use Google to search, New Jersey Administrative Code.
2. Click on the first hit that says "banner".
(It is the lexisnexis site)
3. Click agree and the Michie site instantly opens in a new window.
4. Expand the folder for New Jersey, then expand the New Jersey Administrative Code
5. Expand Title 7.
6. Expand Chapter 2 which is the State Park Service Code.

From there you can review the entire code. Definitions are under General Provisions.
Hope this helped.
Scott
 
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