U.S. EPA releases nation-wide anti-idle info

WASHINGTON, (Sept. 19, 2003) –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has published a summary of the state laws and regulations that restrict vehicle idling.

This list includes provisions from 18 states and the District of Columbia. Only in some states are the restrictions statewide and apply to all diesel commercial vehicles (and in some cases to private passenger vehicles). The compilation includes the citation of the statute, regulation, or ordinance under which the violation is created however, does not include the range of penalties which may be imposed, or how assiduously jurisdictions enforce anti-idling restrictions.

Most of the anti-idling limits range anywhere from three to 30 minutes, with Montana being the most Liberal on the rule, allowing no more than two hours of idle time during a 12 hour period when the state issues an air quality advisory ruling.

Some, but not all, of the states, have included idling exemptions in certain circumstances like traffic conditions, loading and unloading, repairs or inspections, and for auxiliary purposes.

To read the list go to: http://www.epa.gov/orcdizux/retrofit/documents/s03002.pdf