WINTER is coming, and many drivers may be tempted to start their cars while getting ready for the day to make the morning commute a little warmer, a little quicker.
While letting your car idle unattended may seem innocuous enough, many cities and states have specific laws against this that can see drivers slapped with fines as high as $18,000.
Anti-idling laws apply even in the cold winter months[/caption]
Morning commutes may not be as cozy as motorists would like[/caption]
Spending time cleaning snow off your car while it warms up is one key approach to getting an exception from puffing laws[/caption]
Also known as “puffing,” 31 states plus Washington, DC each have their own laws on how long your car can idle unattended for and what the fines for being caught doing so are.
Generally speaking, first offenses come with fines that range from $25 to $1,000, but some states allow for these fines to balloon into several thousand or even tens of thousands of dollars for first offenses.
Some fines even lack theoretical upper limits by having fines double upon each subsequent violation for repeat offenders.
Other states breakdown their fines by local jurisdiction, further muddying the waters on exactly how costly a warm car in the morning can be.
Each state’s anti-idling laws also have time limits associated with them for how long a car can idle before it is considered illegal.
Disregarding exceptions to these laws, some states allow as little as zero minutes of unattended idling, while others allow it for as long as 20 minutes in extenuating circumstances.
States which have anti-idling laws include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Washington, DC’s anti-idling laws are similarly structured and strict relative to those in the above 31 states.
Most states implement these laws for anti-theft purposes, since “puffing is one of the easiest ways to have your vehicle stolen” according to Cale Gould, Public Outreach Coordinator for Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, per local CBS affiliate KCNC.
Thankfully, there are two major exceptions to these laws in most states which allow drivers to warm up their car without getting a ticket.
The first allows for remote start vehicles to idle unattended due to how their ignition process works.
Most vehicles equipped with remote start don’t allow the car to shift into gear until the fob is present inside the vehicle. This effectively prevents the car’s theft as it warms up after being remotely started.
Unfortunately, these laws also very strictly emphasize that only vehicles equipped with remote start and compatible key fobs qualify for exception. If your vehicle requires a key in it to start up, it isn’t exempt.
The second is that some states’ laws only apply to vehicles that are left unattended while idling.
More winter car advice from AAA
The American Automobile Association shared advice on preparing your car for the winter months.
AAA gave the following tips for drivers getting ready for cold weather:
- Get your brakes checked
- Check tire pressure
- Test your car’s battery
- Apply water repellent to your windshield
- Check antifreeze levels
- Clean your headlights
- Have emergency tools available like jumper cables, salt, and an ice scraper
In other words, it’s completely acceptable in these states to turn your car on and let it warm up inside while you scrape snow or ice off of the exterior.
Likewise, many states advise establishing some sort of plan each morning which will give you time to both let your car warm up and watch over it. This is particularly easier in states where snow and ice are constant.
Other exceptions include compliance with manufacturer’s specifications, mechanical difficulties, performing work functions, and even certain temperature thresholds during extreme cold or heat.
AUTUMN LAWS APPROACHING
In addition to these ‘puffing laws,’ there are several others coming this autumn to be aware of, such as one which could see speeding Maryland motorists fined as high as $425.
Florida areas are also especially cracking down in the month, with laws covering everything from the lights you’re allowed to have equipped to harsher penalties for DUI offenders.
Some laws are coming which will benefit motorists in the end, such as Connecticut’s efforts to save drivers time and money after being towed.
