Sleeping at Chargers: Do (or Would) You Feel Safe?

[robby]

I spend a lot of time on the road. Ski trips, road trips, camping/backpacking. On occasion I will sleep in my car while charging, usually at night, either briefly at a Supercharger or for an extended period at a level 2 charger.

I've never had bad experiences, but in the back of my mind I do worry about vandalism or a confrontational crime, especially in less nice areas. Obviously if I am sprawled out in the back I am not in a great position to defend myself or my vehicle. And even if I stay in front, it's not like I can drive away if a danger approaches, as I am plugged in to the charger.

I'm sure the risk of such thing a thing happening is low. But, a low number times a high frequency is a higher number, and Model S is a nice looking car, and I worry it carries an elevated risk of being targeted.

Does anybody else do this, or have similar thoughts? Any ideas for maximizing safety in these situations?

 

[googleiscoul]

Only one near a police station?

 

[Tam]

...risk...

It's safe as long as you don't get robbed!

 

[tmarcc]

I don't think there's much that can be done except to assess the risk based on the supercharger location and make a judgement call. There are sometimes crime maps available online to provide you with additional data to make a meaningful assessment.

 

[CalBlue 85D]

I agree that it is something that any person should be concerned with. I don't think it's limited to charging at a supercharger, but I've definitely been to a couple of chargers late at night on trips and been very vigilant in keeping an eye on what's gong on. Some of the superchargers are not in the best locations and can have poor lighting and visibility. The biggest issue I see is that you can't drive away without getting out of the car to disconnect the charging cable, so even if you identify a situation that is potentially unsafe, your avenue for escape is limited. Being asleep in a car that is perceived as being very expensive (the bad guys can't tell the difference between a $60K or $160K version) definitely could make you a target. That said, so far I have never heard of a Tesla owner being targeted for any significant criminal activity at a supercharger.

 

[Discoducky]

I've done it several times, no worries. YMMV While I don't think that being at a charger makes you more or less safe, it does allow for the aircon or heat to pull from shore power.

 

[DarkMatter]

I would do it. The risks of something happening at the charger are much lower than the risk you take on by driving there in the first place. Driving is a dangerous activity.

 

[daniel]

I guess it depends on the location. I have stopped to take a nap at primitive (no facilities) rest stops, but this is generally on secondary highways in rural British Columbia, Canada, where crime is almost nonexistent. And I was not plugged in.

 

[Lump]

Glock 23 | G23 | .40 Caliber Pistol | GLOCK USA

GLOCK 23 combines compact dimensions for both open and concealed carry, with minimum weight

I take my Glock 17 on road trips especially when headed to Vegas, I have a long trip planned next month where I might arrive late at a SpC so I might dose off, I don't plan on sitting there hapless,

 

[RichardD]

I would have no issue with taking a nap.

 

[kort677]

I would do it. The risks of something happening at the charger are much lower than the risk you take on by driving there in the first place. Driving is a dangerous activity.

this is a very naive statement.
there are more than a few SpC locations that if not in "bad" areas certainly seem to be in bad area. an example would be Mobile AL. they have even posted a sign alerting you to call for security to escort you to the mall that is near the SpCs, however that service is offered only during business hours, off hours you're on your own.

 

[Rockster]

I'd certainly feel safe taking a nap at the Sulfur Springs, TX supercharger: it abuts the city police station! In fact, the city officials stated at the ribbon cutting that the police station lobby restrooms are available to supercharger users 24/7.

 

[David29]

I guess it depends on the location. I have stopped to take a nap at primitive (no facilities) rest stops, but this is generally on secondary highways in rural British Columbia, Canada, where crime is almost nonexistent. And I was not plugged in.

I agree with this sentiment. But in general I also think it should be OK to take a nap in a car.

Years ago, I used to commute on Sunday and Friday nights to a job some distance away, and would often find myself getting sleepy somewhere along the way. So I often took a "power nap" of a few (10-20) minutes and had learned the location of pretty much every suitable location along my route. I would nap at gas stations, roadside rest areas, food places, even at a mall parking lot occasionally. I was driving Mercedes in those days (though not new ones), and the car would be full of clothes and so on. In five years of this weekly commute, I probably took 100 or more naps. If I recall, I was only disturbed once or twice, by police rapping on the window to check on me.

Then again, that was before 9/11 and all that has ensued since, so it might have been a "simpler" time. Police or security guards might be more apt to check on a person in a car nowadays. But I should not think you would be as likely to get hassled at a Supercharger site as at some lonely roadside rest area. Hope not, anyway.

 

[AudubonB]

In my many, many hundreds of thousands of miles of traversing NoAm, I have car-camped not thousands, but certainly many hundreds of nights. In all those times, I have been accosted twice, and both times by police.

Once in a wild part of Massachusetts (Yes! - near Quabbin Reservoir); he was concerned that, with the temperatures below 0ºF, I might be in trouble. I suggested he look at my license plate..... "Oh. It's not too warm for you, then?" was his appropriate response.

The second was in rural Ohio. Two officers told me I couldn't park in that farmer's field access path. I didn't tell them that they were out of bounds, as it was private property and that they couldn't act w/o a complaint by the property owner. It was shortly after 9/11, and all were on short fuses. I moved.

BUT....

a Tesla, and whoever is inside it, has the potential of being a different kind of target from an Alaskan pickup truck. I have found I do have a heightened sense of vulnerability, albeit not much. I've used SpCs to rest/sleep in, but never to overnight. First, that not what they're for; second, because they tend to be in the sorts of locations I never would use as full-nighters. There are exceptions, but this is an open forum and, as with much else that I post here, I tend not to reveal all my trade secrets for anyone to learn. Here's a hint: always always always try to blend in.

 

[Beryl]

Glock 23 | G23 | .40 Caliber Pistol | GLOCK USA

GLOCK 23 combines compact dimensions for both open and concealed carry, with minimum weight

I take my Glock 17 on road trips especially when headed to Vegas, I have a long trip planned next month where I might arrive late at a SpC so I might dose off, I don't plan on sitting there hapless,

I was thinking the same thing (Glock 26). Bad guys may see my Texas license plate and think, "do I feel lucky?" and then decide that it is not worth it.

 

[jerry33]

I have done it on numerous occasions. (Note I'm talking two or three hours.) Many locations are in parking lots which are relatively well patrolled and those are the ones I nap in, but I'm sure there are places where I wouldn't sleep in the car. The safest locations would be shopping malls and hotel parking lots because they generally have patrols or 24 hour traffic. Truck stops are actually okay too because of the constant traffic at all hours.

For those who are more paranoid than I am, here's a video.

 

[habanero69]

Glock 23 | G23 | .40 Caliber Pistol | GLOCK USA

GLOCK 23 combines compact dimensions for both open and concealed carry, with minimum weight

I take my Glock 17 on road trips especially when headed to Vegas, I have a long trip planned next month where I might arrive late at a SpC so I might dose off, I don't plan on sitting there hapless,

Always have your second amendment on/by your side.

 

[McRat]

Vinyl passenger door window stickers (removable):

WARNING:
K-9 INSIDE

Put in white letters on a black background, cut to just under window size to make it easy to install and remove.

 

[daniel]

Vinyl passenger door window stickers (removable):

WARNING:
K-9 INSIDE

Put in white letters on a black background, cut to just under window size to make it easy to install and remove.

How about: "QUARANTINE. TYPHOID."

 

[malcolm]

Just park next to a:

Chevy Malibu
Chrysler 300
Honda Civic
Scion IA
Mazda 6
Nissan Sentra
Subaru Impreza
Volkswagen Golf
Hyundai Sonata

Criminals will be APPALLED that your Tesla doesn't feature automatic emergency braking and will vandalise the other, better car.