Camping World, a prominent RV dealership, is refusing to back down after the city of Greenville, North Carolina, began issuing daily fines for flying an oversized American flag from a 120-foot flagpole at its location on Evans Street and Red Banks Road.
The flag, installed in October, exceeds the city’s ordinance limits, which restrict flags on non-residential property to much smaller dimensions and flagpoles to a maximum height of 70 feet. Camping World has been cited six times since last Wednesday, with fines totaling $1,150 as of Friday.
Camping World CEO Stands Firm
Despite mounting fines, Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis remains defiant, declaring on social media: “The flag is not coming down. You can fine me all you want, City of Greenville, North Carolina. #NoAmericanFlagIsTooBig.”
Earlier this month, Greenville’s city council denied the company’s request to allow the oversized flag, stating that Camping World knowingly violated the regulations when it raised the flag.
Daily Citations and Legal Actions
The city plans to continue issuing $250 daily citations for every day the flag remains in place. It has also requested the removal of the flagpole, but it has not yet pursued legal action to enforce the fines or remove the structure.
A History of Patriotic Defiance
This isn’t the first time Camping World has faced code violations for flying oversized American flags. In other cities, similar disputes eventually led to changes in zoning regulations after the company paid fines.
What’s Next?
As of now, the flag remains flying, and the city’s next steps are unclear. Camping World’s stance has sparked a debate on balancing patriotism with local regulations, drawing national attention to Greenville’s zoning policies.