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.

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)

Is Massachusetts on the list of the weirdest state driving laws? You won't believe what local lawmakers around the country have approved when it comes to driving regulations. Certainly, while they appear dumb, they were put in place for a reason.

NO one knows more about how live on the roads work than AAA:

You see, individual states and towns have their own traffic rules and regulations. The vast majority of these laws are similar from place to place and, most would agree, rules that should indeed be on the books. But every so often there’s a driving law that stands out. Whether it’s oddly specific, mindbogglingly random, painfully archaic or just downright silly, they all can be categorized as bizarre traffic laws.

As you will see that some states have laws that involve livestock and roadkill! One state has a driving law regarding Dunkins, and it's NOT our state! In ONE state, you can't have dirty tires. In another state, it's illegal to tie your dog to the roof. Who wrote that law, Clark Griswold? Want to hug while driving? Can't. Run out of gas? Sorry, against the law.

Want to see more!?

So, buckle up and let's take a drive through the list of the weirdest state driving laws!