It’s official. A new California law (Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan’s bill, AB 618) went into effect as the calendar flipped from 2023 to 2024. The question is: Will California’s new law deter late cancellations and “no-shows” in their public state parks and beaches?
Goal
This new law increases the financial penalties for people who make reservations at a California state park or beach, and then fail to show up or do not cancel their reservation in a timely manner.
Reservations in California state parks
Perhaps you’ve seen it for yourself—campsites that are clearly marked “Reserved” yet remain empty and unoccupied for several days at a time. Meanwhile, there are undoubtedly folks who wanted to camp in those sites but were denied the opportunity.
An unscrupulous tactic by some RVers has been to reserve several sites at different campgrounds to ensure a choice. This practice allows the RVer their choice of sites as they solidify their traveling plans. With no significant consequences for last-minute cancellations or failing to show up at all, this unfair practice has exploded in recent years.
Penalties
Here is a breakdown of the penalties as outlined in the new California law.
- If the cancellation is made within two to six days before the beginning reservation date, the RVer will have to pay for one night’s stay along with any reservation fees.
- If a reservation is canceled within 24 hours of the reserved date, or the RVer does not show up at all, the RVer will be charged for the entire reserved stay in addition to any reservation fees.
- If a camper fails to show up for three online reservations within one calendar year, that person will not be allowed to make ReserveCalifornia reservations for one full year, beginning from the start date of the third missed reservation.
California State Park camping reservation reminders
The new law stipulates that ReserveCalifornia send two reminders via email or other preferred communication. The first reminder will be sent ten days from the start of the reservation period and a second reminder sent four days prior to the reservation start date.
And more
Beginning in 2025, California’s new law provides for a new raffle pilot program. Raffle winners will be given the opportunity to stay at one of California’s most popular campsites, as determined by the number of bookings through the ReserveCalifornia system.
What do you think?
Will California’s new law deter late cancellations and “no-shows”? Voice your opinion in the comments below, please. (No politics.)
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I like the 3rd point. 3 no shows and no reservations for a year. But it’ll only deter the ones who won’t try as another persona or in their dogs name.
California does require a license plate number to be assigned to each site reservation made. If Camp Hosts or Park Rangers were to check vehicle registrations and VIN numbers suspecting fraud, they could go to that extent. Better bring a government ID for that dog who made the reservation too, A paid reservation is not a guarantee of acceptance into a California State Park in my experience and others may have their own experience.
In this day and age it would be nice if the various park systems could cross check license plates of trailers to spot people making multiple reservations at different parks. There is a park in Texas that we enjoy and we have found many sites reserved but unoccupied. Several times we wanted reservations for particular dates only to have the website show it was full up. Yet if we went there on a day trip ( 4 hours there and back ) we would find half of the sites reserved but no one in them. I hope California’s new will eliminate some of the no shows.
The thing about making an online reservation in a California State Park, the reservation system charges the entire camping fee at the time the reservation is made. There is no clawing back that money once the state has it if not abiding by their rules. I know some very wealthy folks do not care about losing affordable state park camping fees. But not all of us are that fortunate. And too, along with trying to make better use of state parks, some low-income folks will be getting a break too.
I think this is a move in the right direction. We’ve had to cancel or postpone arrival at California parks a couple of times and have always got the refund due, less the cancellation fee.
Thank you, Gail! It seems as though there should be some distinction between cancelling less than 24 hours before the reservation begins and not showing at all. As I read this the penalty is the same for both. I do applaud the effort by the state to reduce the number of no-shows. Thanks again, Gail, and safe travels! 🙂
These penalties are a plus, I have been in many campgrounds with empty sites yet booked full. Hopefully this will spread to other states and private campgrounds. It’s hard enough to get reservations without no shows taking up prime sites.
The good news is something is being done…The bad news is it took a law to do it. IF the parks were managed properly and effectively and IF the state set up a system to crosscheck reservations…..then again, THERE OUTTA BE A LAW is the common call. As I said…good and bad at the same time. 🙁
Question: If someone reserves a site for 3 days and doesn’t show, do they release the site after the 1st night?
They release it at the end of the departure time the next day. They use to not release see it at all.
In regards to the new CA State Park reservation changes: (1) we noticed that campsites are becoming available either ahead of our stay and during our stay; and (2) no email reminders yet. We had three reservations in Jan / Feb and were happy with the changes.
Like this! A reservation is a two-way promise. It’s actually a contract, and if you breach a contract, you should be held responsible. I wish this was in MORE places! California finally got one right.
Finally?
Need to make a secondary market for these reservations. If I cant make it then I go online and say i will not be able to use my first day or whatever days you have reserved…then if someone goes online and can use your reservation, then you pay nothing or penalties because you are not wasting a reservation and someone can use it. Just like secondary Ticketmaster accounts etc, but run by state so no price increases can happen, just you can offer back up your reservation for no penalty if someone can use it. If no one can use your reservation, then the new penalty system should take precedence
California resident here and I applaud the state for implementing these new rules. Anything to help open up unused campsites is definitely a plus.
Yes, this is a necessary step in this age of me first thinking. Yes, the financially well off will still do as they have, but will have to watch that 3rd no-show. The work around would be reserving under another name, different account. I know, it happens here in Ohio state parks.