tmoning

For 10 years as chairman of FMCA's Governmental and Legislative Affairs Committee, Max Durbin strived to provide the best possible advice to members who were confronting laws affecting their motorhoming lifestyle. Max passed away on March 4. He was a kind, dedicated soul who was passionate about protecting motorhome owners' rights. With his broad range of experience, he would take on just about any issue that an FMCA member brought to his attention, and would put a lot of time into it. He touched many RVers' lives, whether they knew it or not. To read about Max and his contributions to FMCA, click the link on FMCA.com's home page.

Another year of the Oscars has come and gone and not a single motorhome earned a nomination. Isn't it time motorhomes received their props as celluloid heroes? Certainly they've paid their dues. Motor coaches have played the roles of military fighting machine (a revamped GMC in Stripes). They've been destroyed by dinosaurs (The Lost World: Jurassic Park), and in virtually destroyed by Robin Williams (RV). What's your favorite movie that has a motorhome in it? And don't say The Long, Long Trailer (1953) with Lucy and Desi. That was a trailer. I'm talking motorized RVs here. Here are my top three: 3. Meet the Fockers Robert De Niro's character drives a Fleeetwood Pace Arrow to Florida to meet his son's fiance's parents, played by Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman, in this movie sequel. 2. About Schmidt Jack Nicholson drives his 35-foot Winnebago Adventurer from Nebraska to Colorado to try to reconnect with his engaged daughter. At a campground en route, he meets an RVing couple who marvel at his new coach and invite him over to their older, less-equipped model. 1. Lost in America Albert Brooks and his wife, played by Julie Haggerty, decide that corporate America is not the place for them. They liquidate their assets to start a "nest egg," buy a motorhome, and hit the road. A stop in Las Vegas to renew wedding vows ruins their dreams, as Haggerty gambles away their savings.

Self-storage owners in Virginia may have to provide their local commissioner of revenue with the names and addresses of out-of-state residents who store recreation vehicles at their outdoor storage facilities. House Bill 2289 passed the General Assembly in late February. If the governor signs it, the bill would take effect July 1. As of Jan. 1, 2010, RVs and boats stored in self-storage by out-of-state residents would be taxed by the state. Apparently, out-of-state residents are storing their RVs at fenced storage locations. By law, revenue commissioners are not permitted inside the storage facilities to collect license-plate numbers and other information about the vehicles. The state prepresentative who sponsored the bill said the proposed legislation is fair because Virginians who own RVs and boats are taxed on their vehicles. Out-of-state RV owners who leave their vehicles parked at campgrounds are subject to tax under existing law, if those campgrounds are accessible to the public. I wonder how privacy rights proponents are reacting to this bill. Should be interesting to see how it plays out ....

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