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dle · Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 731 Location: Texas

There is a $350 fine if you get caught idling your engine for more than 5 minutes. It went into effect about a week ago.

http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=242512&she=1

Windwalker · Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 2822 Location: Holiday, FL

I've been told that if you have a pet on board, they can not enforce the no-idle laws. It conflicts with HUMANE SOCIETY LAWS. I've even seen one company that letters "PET ON BOARD" on the doors of their trucks whether the driver has a pet with him or not.

Anybody know anything about this?

dle · Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 731 Location: Texas

http://www.greendallas.net/pdfs/IdlingWhatIsOrdinance.pdf

Here is some more info on it. It looks like it's not year round.

Quote: Motor vehicles that weigh over 14,000 pounds are now
prohibited from idling over five minutes in the city of Dallas.
The law will be enforced during Ozone Season, April 1st –
October 31st of each year.

Quote: What are the Exceptions to the Rule?
• Idling for longer than five minutes is permitted if the following circumstances occur:
• The vehicle weighs 14,000 pounds or less;
• The vehicle must remain motionless because of traffic conditions;
• The vehicle is being used by the United States military, including National Guard and
Reserve forces; or as an emergency or law enforcement motor vehicle;
• The vehicle is providing a power source necessary for mechanical operation, not
including propulsion, and/or passenger compartment heating or air conditioning;
• The vehicle is idling for maintenance or diagnostic purposes;
• The vehicle is idling to defrost a windshield;
• The vehicle is idling to supply heat or air conditioning necessary for passenger
comfort/safety in those vehicles intended for commercial passenger transportation or
school buses, in which case idling up to a maximum of 30 minutes is allowed;
• The vehicle is idling to provide air conditioning or heating necessary for employee
health or safety while the employee is using the vehicle to perform an essential job
function related to road construction or maintenance;
• The vehicle is being used as airport ground support or equipment; or
• The vehicle is idling to provide heat or air conditioning for the driver while using the
sleeper berth during a federally mandated rest period.

Rev.Vassago · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 5402 Location: Green Bay, WI

dle wrote:
• The vehicle is idling to provide heat or air conditioning for the driver while using the
sleeper berth during a federally mandated rest period.

Feel good legislation that is completely irrelevant.

RebelDarlin · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 1348 Location: Illinois

Rev.Vassago wrote: dle wrote:
• The vehicle is idling to provide heat or air conditioning for the driver while using the
sleeper berth during a federally mandated rest period.

Feel good legislation that is completely irrelevant.

Not totally irrelevant. It seems to be aimed at the drivers who leave their truck idling while they go in to pay for their fuel, and get a cup of coffee, and use the facilities and/or otherwise waste a half an hour or more of their clock.

At least Dallas left a provision for the drivers to idle when they need it.

Reb

dle · Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 731 Location: Texas

When I watched the video I noticed there was an officer climbing up on the step and knocking on the window.

I wonder if the officers that enforce the idling ordinance understands what a Quote: federally mandated rest period is.

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