Using PlugShare fast charger at VW dealer -- Is it legal?

[Scc18603]

So in PlugShare there is a VW dealer with a fast charger on my route. Is it legal to stop and charge there or would it be considered theft of service? Plug share doesn’t say there is a fee. This stop would really help me reach the EA chargers on a trip down south.

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[AZBill]

If PlugShare is showing it, then you should be able to use it. We have some local Ford amnd GM dealers that allow public charging, with or without a fee. Check to see what app you need to initiate the charge, PlugShare will show that.

 

[JamieGeek]

You could always call the dealer and ask. If they tell you its ok then its ok.

 

[AjzRide]

Most dealers allow free charging because it gets you on the lot with no where to go and nothing to do but listen to a salesman. You should call and check though.

 

[RickMachE]

So in PlugShare there is a VW dealer with a fast charger on my route. Is it legal to stop and charge there or would it be considered theft of service? Plug share doesn’t say there is a fee. This stop would really help me reach the EA chargers on a trip down south.

The charger was entered into PlugShare by someone. If you read the specifics on that location, it tells you whether it is restricted, or not. Whether it's fee, or not. And shows you who has charged there with what specific vehicles. People write things in comments like "blocked by cars" or "dealers always has cars charging there" or "turned off, employees wouldn't turn it on".

There is nothing illegal about driving onto a dealership's property, after hours, unless they have posted signs or a gate up. But, they have every right to restrict it to VWs only, or during working hours only, or charge a fee - and that should all be in PlugShare.

 

[kdonnel]

If you plan to arrive after hours, ensure the charger is accessible then. Sometimes they are behind locked gates when the dealership is closed.

 

[Dustus]

I've used the charger at the VW dealership in southern Idaho on one trip. One of the salesman came out and moved his ICE car out of the spot so I could use it. Didn't seem to mind at all that I was driving a Ford.

 

[MachEMaster]

Go and charge during business hours, and drink their free coffee too!

 

[bbulkow]

Short answer: PlugShare is crowd sourced so you won't know until you call or get there.

Long answers already in the replies but an owner of a charger can do whatever they darn well want. If a service is publicly available and has no sign, it's reasonable to use it. If anyone shows up and says "piss off" one would be polite and leave. If the cops show up, I would have trouble imagining anything other than "we're rather you move along". If there was a general no trespassing sign, I could imagine talking my way out of it, if there was a specific "this charger reserved for VWs" I still can't imagine much harm. I might offer the officer $20 to pass along to the business owner as a gesture of good will and no harm done (or offer to put it in the mail slot).

If you had to climb a fence or open a gate, you're almost certainly afoul of the owner's intent and thus the law.

For trip planning, I prefer something on a network. Everything's clearer if a network is involved.

A private residence - or a dwelling that appears a private residence - is a bit different, as there's an implication it's not publicly accessible, even with no trespassing signs. Realistically, no one calls the cops on someone who (perhaps illegally) walks up the front steps to drop a flyer or has their dog to business on the front lawn. Using someone's charger is pretty obviously theft though, and I plan to put a lock on my charger and maybe even turn off the breaker if I'm out of town.

Sometimes I'm out running, and run out of water. I've had the same (legally) situation, as I prefer not to buy a bunch of plastic with water inside, I look for spigots. No one has ever complained about me using a publicly accessible spigot on a business - although I'm taking fractions of pennies of water, and an MME's worth of charge is a bit more. I think if I grabbed a hose in a neighborhood, I'd get a person coming out and yelling at me, so I don't do that.

 

[Logal727]

Go and charge during business hours, and drink their free coffee too!

Some got free donuts as well!

 

[Mach-Lee]

Always read the PlugShare notes carefully to see if there are any restrictions. Sometimes the VW chargers are dealer use only and you won't be able to use them since you don't have the access code. I would call and ask before counting on being able to stop there. If you find out it's not public, make sure you send a modification request to PlugShare to mark it as private.

Know there are some PlugShare a-holes that go around and add private chargers they see without permission. They think they are doing a good thing, but they actually cause trouble when you end up using a charger that is supposed to be private use only. Never add a charger to PlugShare unless you've gotten permission from the property owner to do so, and ask if there are any use restrictions (such as customers only). We want to be respectful of property rights and good stewards as EV drivers.

In conclusion, do not assume a charger is public use just because it shows up on PlugShare, use common sense or ask. Someone might have added it without correctly marking it as private.

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