Did You Know You Could Be Fined For Warming Up Your Car In Massachusetts?
No idling, Massachusetts! There’s a fine for warming up your car in Massachusetts! According to Chapter 90, Section 16A of a state law: “No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the unnecessary operation of the engine of a motor vehicle while said vehicle is stopped.” What? Ok, let’s break it down. Did you know you could be fined for warming up your car in Massachusetts.
But, it’s cold! As we all know, winters can be brutal here. Walking out your door and into a freezing cold car in the morning is miserable. Today, I learned that starting your car with the purpose of warming it up is against the law. And, according Only In Your State Massachusetts, you could be fined for leaving your running car unattended. As the article says, the law was “intended to make Boston idle free.”
Why, is the question we all want answers to. Do they want Massachusetts residents to freeze our butts off? No, there is a reason, of course. And the answer is that this “new law” is put in place to lower air pollution. I had no idea that idling a car leads to notable air pollution.
Fine. But What Are The Fines?
As relayed in Only in Your State, you are subject to be fined $100 for the first offense. So, if your vehicle is found, unattended, sitting idle for more than five minutes, you may have to pay. That is, if you are caught. After the first time you are caught, you would be fined $500 for each time following that! It’s seems a little harsh to put us through this in the dead of a cold winter. But there is a way around it.
As stated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, if you are trying to de-ice your windshield, it’s allowed. Boom, there is your loophole. You simply fight the ticket and say your are de-icing your windshield. That is the only exception. Find out more on Idle Free Boston, HERE.
And if you think this is weird law, check out these! (Especially Alaska)
WEIRDEST State Driving Laws In The Country: Massachusetts?
