A California retail business is facing punishment from the local government for flying a giant American flag that is said to violate safety regulations.
The San Joaquin County Camping World RV Sales, like its 250 other locations across the country, is known for flying a massive American flag. But in April, the county’s community development organization put a stop to this practice, claiming that its size violated safety standards and had not been permitted to be flown.
According to the county, the flagpole was put in place without “planning approval” and a “building permit,” thus leading to scrutiny from the “code enforcement division.” The local government agency added that the problem is not the national flag itself, but the safety risks it imposes due to the flagpole’s close location to a nearby highway and other property lines.
Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, heard about the problem and told the dealership to return the flag to its pole on August 5. He explained that they would not keep the flag in place if it were “putting people in danger” or inhibiting air traffic. But the flag, he said, is safe and secure, having been installed deep in the ground and with severe weather conditions in mind.
San Joaquin County requires that flagpoles which are higher than 25 feet must be approved with a permit. According to local officials, Camping World has submitted an application for such a permit, which remains under review. Lemonis, for his part, has refused to lower the flag pending the review of the application.
And this is not the business owner’s first rodeo. In May 2019, Camping World was slapped with a lawsuit for violating a city code related to flag size. The business, which was a Gander RV outlet, was fined more than $14,000 for breaking the ordinance. A settlement from the following October included the stipulation that Lemonis’ daily $50 fine would be rescinded as the city had agreed to rezone the area, making the flag compliant with ordinances.
