Sleeping in car/van at Paradise

Has anyone tried sleeping in their vehicle at Paradise recently in the winter when they lock the gate? I assume they allow vehicles to park there to accommodate climbers and others who are camping on the mountain. Do you have to have a permit in the window of your vehicle to park like that?

You aren't allowed to camp in your car, and I think they check. You can, however, get a permit to camp in the woods next to the Paradise Inn (right next to the lot). I wonder if you had that permit you could van camp more easily. In Spring I've heard of people getting away with car camping.

There are some spots just outside the park for free van camping if you look around.

"Camp in designated campsites only. Sleeping in vehicles outside of campgrounds is not permitted:."

www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

"In selecting your [backcountry] campsite, choose a location that is a minimum of 300 feet from plowed roads and parking areas (to avoid being buried by snowplows), marked routes, trails, and buildings and at least 100 feet from water.  Permits are required for all overnight camping. Register for a wilderness permit.:"

www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/winter-camping.htm

Scroll down to see the map for the winter overnight parking area.  It's the 'lower' parking lot where the old Visitor Center was located.  That's several hundred yards from the upper lot 24-hour winter restroom, but adjacent to the ranger dorm. 

Historically winter vehicle camping has not been allowed at Paradise.  I suspect they worry that an RV slum would develop over time, or that outbound vehicles could interfere with plowing.  It would also imply an obligation to plow and open that management seems increasingly unwilling to meet, since they now seem to close the day before a winter storm warning..

Now I'm getting curious; has anyone ever been denied a winter backcountry camping permit or climbing permit because of a stormy weather forecast??