Meeting residency for CPL...

[Clipper]

...Say I want to sell my home and stuff, load up the motor home and spend my retirement fishing and hunting all over, but must have something to use as an address for DL and CPL purposes. Do any of you do this, and how do you meet the requirements?

Thanks...

 

[Gungnir]

I guess it depends is the best answer, I have a similar issue, although I'm not moving around.

Currently I have three addresses, one is my Lat/Long physical location I give to family/friends to visit along with directions, since I'm in unincorporated land, with no "real" address. One is my "imaginary" physical address, for things like bank accounts etc. basically an off milepost marker, but the bank also has my mailing address. The final is my mailing PO Box, my drivers license is addressed as this for instance, although the DMV have my off milepost address too.

Fortunately I live in a state where this kind of thing is not uncommon, and we don't need a concealed carry permit.

However I am a permanent resident, and not transient. Interesting question, you could get a Non-Resident Permit from one of the states that issue them (AZ, TX, UT to name three) for concealed carry, for drivers and vehicle licensing, I guess that would depend on your permanent mailing address, and their regulations.

 

[Clipper]

Well, Michigan has the most widely accepted CPL in the country, so I want to maintain MI residency. I was just looking for options, since there have to be people doing thiis.

 

[Trebor]

Find a good RV board and talk to people there.

Also, check with Mich SoS to see if they have any info on maintaining Mich residencey while you are out of state.

 

[wishin]

Is there any reason why you can't use MI as your home base? Most states seem to recognize and tolerate a nomadic lifestyle so long as you return to your home base periodically, and within the timeframe dictated by law. Does MI treat this differently, or are you planning on being away for a very long time?

 

[Clipper]

I'm planning to maybe do without any fixed address. The only tie I would have to any fixed location would be my bank account where I receive my pension check. I might keep a PO drawer to empty a couple times a year...

 

[JellyJar]

Don't forget state income tax! I assume that if you have "official" residency in a state that you will have to pay state income tax in that state. If so choose one that has no state income tax?

 

[Trebor]

Just so you know, your Michigan CPL is *only* valid as long as you are a resident of the State of Michigan.

You can travel outside of the state and maintain residency, but if you truly desire to not list any fixed address, and you give up your Michigan DL or stop paying Michigan Income Tax, it is very likely the state would no longer consider you a resident and would invalidate your CPL.

If you actually get a DL in another state, or start paying income tax in another state, then it's pretty definite that you have given up Michigan residency and your CPL becomes invalid.

Now, for that "gray area" where you want to maintain the benefits of Michigan residency, but plan to travel extensively out of state, check with the sources I posted before. I will say that maintaining an address in Michigan, a Michigan DL, and paying Michigan State Income Tax would all go a long way towards retaining Michigan residency and keeping your CPL.

Not a lawyer and not legal advice, so YMMV.

 

[Clipper]

I'm retired and MI doesn't tax pensions...I may have to buy an acre of swamp somewhere to provide a real address, but I would rather avoid it. I don't necessarily wish to do a lot of out-of-state traveling (there's plenty of great fishing & hunting here), but I can camp in state forrests free (maybe that's only during hunting season, though), or spend a couple weeks at a state forrest campground then move on, etc.

 

[wishin]

A patch of swamp, while giving you a physical location, would not lend itself to supporting and jockeying a trailer. As for the thought of jumping around from campground to campground in MI, that's just not practical IMO.

I'd recommend a small (1/4 acre) lot in a MI rural area for the home base; property is usually less expensive out there. Another idea would be to advertise for and find an absent landowner who will rent you a small patch for a nominal sum; or find a homeowner with enough acreage to let you park the trailer on a remote piece of his lot for a small charge.

A post office box would suffice for the addresss of record, however, some states will not allow the use of a P.O. box address on a CC permit.

 

[cloudedice]

You should talk to Ed Peruta. He travels around the country in his mobile home to his residences in 3 states. He's currently fighting a legal battle in California because San Diego denied his CWL citing his lack of "residency" within San Diego.

http://www.ctgunrights.com/ - His website.

He's not a lawyer, but very knowledgeable.

You can also find him on OpenCarry.org on the Connecticut and California boards.