It sounds almost too strange to be true—but it is true. A Burning Man RVer was caught in a sting operation that could cost him thousands.
Craigslist ad to rideshare
Phoenix, Arizona, is home to Chris Williams, a 51-year-old man who was eagerly looking forward to attending his second Burning Man Festival in Nevada this year. To make the trip more comfortable, he rented a 32-foot motorhome. Heading to the festival, he was stocking up in Reno. While there, he made a big mistake. He posted a Craigslist ad, offering to take other Burners with him.
An undercover operation by the Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA) set out to nail folks ridesharing to the festival. When Chris Williams got a response to his post, little did he know he wasn’t talking with a fellow Burner—but with an undercover NTA agent. The agent told Williams he had six riders, and could give him $700 for all to ride to and from the festival. Williams responded he only needed $300 for gas. Williams set off to pick up his six passengers—and got a big surprise when he got there.
Burning Man RVer was caught in sting operation—arrested, RV impounded
When Williams pulled the motorhome into the meeting point—a resort—the Class C was surrounded by cars and men flashing badges. Williams told the Reno Gazette Journal, “The first words out of (the agent’s) mouth were like, ‘these are $10,000 fines each’ … and I kind of laughed at him,” Williams said. “I mean, I couldn’t even believe it.”
Williams is like plenty of other people who didn’t know that if you offer to take money to transport somebody in your vehicle in Nevada, you need a special license. But as the NTA will tell you, it’s up to you to know the law and to stick to it. Williams hadn’t familiarized himself with Nevada law, and in the end, it will cost him money. And it cost him his visit to the Burning Man Festival.
The men with badges took Williams away. They also took his rented motorhome away and locked it up. Williams himself didn’t get away from law enforcement for 12 hours. He told the news organization, “It seemed like I had to plead guilty or responsible to some of these charges just in order to get the opportunity to pay them, to get my RV out,” he said. “So I just kind of went along with whatever I had to go along with to get the release paper. And I still don’t understand.”
To get the motorhome out of impound, Williams had to pay $250 to the NTA. But that wasn’t the end of it. The tow company wanted their piece of the pie, and by the time Williams could come up with the money, a week went by and he was stuck with a $552 impound fee.
And it gets worse
Licking his wounds, Chris Williams parked the motorhome on a Reno street. During the night, someone broke in and took all his equipment and gear. He moved the RV to a motel lot where he spent two nights. The next morning, he found thieves had slid under the rental motorhome and swiped the catalytic converter.
Stuck in Reno with no money to get home, Williams is waiting for his next hearing over the NTA debacle. That hearing is today, where he faces charges of operating as a commercial carrier without a license, and advertising services for which a certificate is required.
NTA gives its side of the story
A reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal contacted the NTA about the sting operation. The agency refused to say when the sting began. It wouldn’t disclose just how many were caught in the op. The paper says it found at least one other person caught. A grandmother who wanted to go to the festival and offered to rideshare with others for gas expenses.
NTA’s representative, Teri Williams, told the paper, “‘As a law enforcement agency, the NTA’s mission is to protect the traveling public which requires that the agency regulate certificated and permitted providers as well as take proactive measures to identify and deter unlicensed activity,’ Williams said via email.”
“‘Ultimately, people that engage in commerce of any kind must be knowledgeable about what is required to operate legally … the onus falls on the individual to be informed and in compliance,’ Williams wrote.”
##RVT174b
Wow…glad to see that Nevada is going after the criminals who are preying on their citizens. You would think that there should be bigger fish to fry than going after people who are attempting to rideshare to a remote event.
I’m glad the “cops” are not at the border. I feel safer knowing that they’re going after regular citizens.
Sounds like a money grab to me, Just like some towns that are traffic traps.
This is crazy. Wanting to offset fuel costs by carpooling is now a crime? The guy was going to the festival anyhow. This is not like a commercial transportation operation. The guy turned down $600 in favor of $300 because he is not in it for profit, just a fuel offset. No profit motivation, no crime.
If I carpool to the city with 3 neighbors and they gives me money for fuel what exactly is the commercial permit I need to have?
Less vehicles = less emissions, isn’t that the goal.
If someone at the festival stayed on his pull out sofa would he also need a hoteliers license?
Forbid someone would not have pulled something out from his refrigerator and then getting caught for not having a food vendors license. How to get burnt going to Burning Man.
Agree. This wasn’t a commercial venture…just a guy ridesharing for some gas money. And to deal with thieves of another kind to boot! Pretty sad.
The only commercial endeavor was the one pulled off by law enforcement. Burning Man is now a lucrative revenue stream for the “authorities”.
Totally RIDICULOUS!
A bogus money grab by the state…
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Yikes! I will avoid Nevada evermore; thank you! 🙂 Come to think of it, I don’t think that I have ever been in Nevada. 🤔 Have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I think that’s stupid. I can understand it if he would have taken the $700 but when all he’s asking for is gas money that’s not like he’s trying to operate a business. that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. I used to live in Nevada. I’m glad I moved away. I lived there for 50 years and it’s getting more liberal by the minute. I’m glad I live in Arizona now where you don’t have to put up with that crap yet
Please leave politics out of this. In Florida bootstrap limousine companies get caught in the same sort of sting every prom season.
A prom season limo scam is not a guy carpooling to a music festival.
Richard, are you saying this is a liberal thing? I think you would find that most of the police agencies and officers are on the right. Did I read your statement wrong. Liberals would insist on ride sharing to take the burden off the roads and the air quality.
Law enforcement is out of control. I used to believe there were good cops and bad cops but not anymore. If the “good cop”, who won’t personally violate your rights, will stand by and watch his partner violate your rights then he isn’t any good either! The blue wall of silence is real and these cops and feds are out of control!
EPA did not approve this operation
The NTA Gestapo at its finest! And does anyone wonder why no one trusts any Government Agency? I don’t!
And where were these cops when his RENTED RV was getting stripped and vandalized? After the local Uber drivers?
I worked for Burning Man for many years; the event pumps millions into the surrounding communities and states. This type of behavior puts that at risk you can bet the Burner community has already gotten the word out to avoid Reno and NV if you need riders to share expenses. Mr Williams was doing what Burners (name for folks attending Burning Man) do bartering to make ends meet. Bottom line for NTA, its not nearly as exciting hassling a bus drivers or truck drivers or office comptrollers as it is pulling off a big time sting operation. JMHO
Meanwhile, no actual criminals were apprehended in this sting operation.
This would be a far different comment if a rider got into a vehicle with a criminal and something very bad happened. The NTA protects the public from criminals and uninsured operators.
Ted you are really a “ Debbie Downer”, have they actually caught any one nefariously transporting burners that go on a rampage and kill them all? I’ll wait for your answer. Burners are from my experiance really fun loving free spirit people, not multiple maniacs like in your world. Snap out of it Ted, bad does not hide behind every lamp post.
But some state agency sure extracted a few pounds of flesh laughing all the way to the gold coffers!
What a crock. Time for some serious journalism to expose this. I don’t think any citizen would think this action by the NTA is okay. Like the other comments, they’re taking advantage of a cash cow.
This action is exactly what should happen. What if this had been a scam to transport unsuspecting teens away from home, YOUR TEEN! Too often to quickly blame the government, the enforcement, then when their families are victims to yell “where are authorities “? This should never have been published in this way!
“What if this had been a scam”? IF?
That’s your takeaway?
What IF he offered them an out of date beer?
What IF he sold them a fake Rolex on the trip?
What IF he was speeding too?
What IF…IF…IF?
He was carpooling Bob.
Thank you. Isn’t that what we all should be doing to help the environment, sharing the ride is a responsible way to go.
The biggest problem here is finding a serious journalist. Someone that has no agenda to sway the research and honestly report it. I can see a need for the NTA. But if someone like this man and another grandma that I read about obviously not scammers should not be treated like this. It’s kinda funny what laws law enforcement chooses to be over the top on. Rioting and burning cars and buildings is peaceful protest.
You are mixing the two up, please get your facts correct. The majority of the people in the BLM protests that broke the law were arrested and prosecuted. It’s public fact but not if you’re looking at it through partisan glasses.
Our government is out of control. Try contacting government agencies about a problem. You go nowhere. I’ve contacted Congressman Cartwright and he’s useless.
Agreed, any time I’ve written my Gov/Senator/Congressperson on any subject all I receive is a canned prewritten email response. No help.
There was a time in Nevada that Democratic candidates and position holders would respond with a typed or had written note signed by the position holder. My mom was fierce Democrat and often wrote the governor or senator of the state. I have those returned letters from my late mother’s estate. You won’t be getting any signed personally written letters today.
Just to bring you back to planet earth, this is Nevada STATE LAW. It has nothing to do with the “Government” those partisan blinders you’re wearing are doing their job for you but unfortunately you have completely missed the point.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY – PURE AND SIMPLE. AND THE ‘AUTHORITIES’ THE ‘GOVERN MENTAL’ IS, ONCE AGAIN, THE PERP.
THE PERP HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO, I SUPPOSE, THAN TARGET AND PERSECUTE GOOD REGULAR FOLKS. THAT’S WHAT PERPS DO.
As a former tour operator in Nevada I have to say that the NTA is protecting the public. With the gambling industry the state attracts millions of tourists. There are signs posted everywhere in the airports warning about not accepting rides with unlicensed ride operators. The most important check on operators is the criminal background checks. The NTA is protecting the public from potentially getting in a vehicle with a s*x offender or worse. Legally all of us are responsible for knowing state laws. Be careful out there. It’s a dangerous world.
I don’t disagree with anything you said. This guy is not an “operator” tho. He is a car-pooler.
That is advertising his ride on Craigslist. Would you hop in with any stranger you meet on Craigslist? You can go for it, not me.
Some of us Ted don’t fear the world. The very knowledge that they are going to Burnin Man, a bacchanal of nudity, art, self expression, hedonism for a weekend of release of the norms that bind us all should tell you that they were comfortable with the offer. The only thing to fear, is fear its self .
Well, I guess my comment failed the test. I never even got to send it before it was deleted. Welcome to 1984, and have a nice day………
Obviously the authors are recommending just hopping in a vehicle with a stranger they met on Craigslist. What possibly could go wrong?
I think the authors are recommending discretion. Some people on Craigslist may just be looking for a carpool to a festival. Canceling All Risk in life is not possible.
Discretion in charging quasi criminals with quasi crimes might be good too.
Hi, Al. We don’t have any way of deleting comments before they’re posted. Maybe you hit a button you didn’t intend to. Also, no one was moderating comments before 7:30 Pacific time this morning, so it wasn’t us. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
My comment in support of the NTA failed the test too.
You are very irresponsible with this article. I was a tour operator in Nevada. All operators must be state licensed. This includes criminal background checks and that the operator has proper insurance. You obviously recommend that people hop into a vehicle with a stranger from Craigslist? WOW!
No different then hitch hiking but probably a chance to ask some questions before jumping on board.
I’m mixed on this.
NTA is there to prevent people from climbing in to transports operated by scammers to protect tourism in Nevada. It’s the state’s lifeblood.
An RV full of people to rob and then dump out in the desert is an easy hustle. It doesn’t take much imagination to envision “Just pay for part of the gas” as the cheese in the trap to lure the unsuspecting. The more wallets in the ride, the less their individual fuel cost (and the more to get robbed).
When women got violated by fake Uber drivers, citizens (rightfully) yelled for more controls. When passengers got scammed by fake charter bus companies, citizens (rightfully) yelled for more controls. Well, here they are….
Good point.
Your point is well made and well received Vince.
I guess if he robbed them he should be charged with that felony but he did not. Life has risks and no number of silly and selective enforcement of laws will stop people from making bad decisions or getting duped.
This is outrageous. He was just asking for a reasonable amount to help with gas. He wasn’t trying to gouge anyone. I hope that Chris can sue the crap out of the NTA. It would be different if Chris did this on a regular basis. Just because it’s law does not mean it’s right. The Nevada legislature needs to redefine this unfair law. NTA…Get a life!
As Darla pointed out, real criminal activity continues while the NTA focuses on this absurdity.
I am So. Tired. Of. Government.
big brother not safety but control
Love my country, fear my government.
I love (or not) how everyone trashes the authority for enforcement, when there is clearly a need for such laws. Sorry for this guys dilemma, but he should have known better, or, ignorance is not an excuse!
And where can we the public get a copy of each and every law for every state? Here are some laws you need to know if traveling in Ohio. In Cleveland, it is illegal to catch mice without a hunting license. In Columbus, it is illegal for stores to sell Corn Flakes on Sunday. In North Canton, it’s illegal to roller skate without notifying the police. In Fairview Park, it is illegal to honk your horn “excessively.” In Canton, it is a misdemeanor to play any game in a public park without the superintendent’s permission.
I’m going to have to look that NV NTA law up. Years ago I used to take an RV load of folks to the Burn sharing the rental cost and gas. My trips originated in WA state. I wonder if I was in violation once crossing the state line into NV…or if WA has similar laws and I dodged a “bullet?” These days I blissfully travel solo to Black Rock City.
So I am guessing there were no higher thread level issues going on in Nevada such that so much manpower needed to be applied to this. Da*n people going to burning man and offering to pay for the gas.
I live in NV part of the year and people are always posting that they will take someone to the LV airport for gas money and other things…Had no idea about this but I have posted it on our local FB page.
One more point…my neighbor often takes me to the airport to fly out or pick up guests or to a DR appointment if I need a driver and I buy her dinner…is that illegal also?
In Nevada, Vanessa, you are a criminal!
Do not pass GO, go straight to jail.
As strict as the FAA is about taking money to fly passengers it allows expense sharing for such as fuel and oil if the expenses are divided equally and the trip would be made by the pilot even if he didn’t take ride share passengers. Amazing that Nevada law is so much more strict.
Something that should be added to this law is a ‘FOR PROFIT’ clause.
Nevada must have very sufficient police resources. A “crime” yes but no more serious crimes were in need of these officers?
Nevada had a horrible history with hippies in the 60’s and 70’s. Cutting their hair off and dropping them off on the highway outside of town with no shoes in 103 heat. They’re despicable.
Yep, that’s our big brother at work! Who votes for people who enact laws like this that financially swamps the little guy, a harmless crime, while the rich politically connected can do no harm. Think the coming election, the left coast candidate isn’t the answer.
Please remember that these were Nevada cops and most likely not a “left coaster” in the force, I know, as I’m from Nevada, deep roots. Nevada cops have always been bad since I was a kid and I’m a senior now. This doesn’t surprise me, this underhanded retaliation to the burners who are mostly “ left coasters”. They believe in freedom, free spirit and sharing. The Nevada cops just want a piece of the pie in re burning man. It’s really despicable.
Wow, sting operation really got some criminals off the street. Don’t they have something/someone to go after that are criminals. Don’t dare offer your neighbor money to give you a ride somewhere. Sad.
To me, sharing expenses is WAY different than hiring and paying a driver with the driver expecting to make a profit. Go find real criminals and stop wasting my money as a taxpayer.