How Long can you “Idle” without receiving a NYC Parking Ticket?

Unnecessary engine idle is a violation of the NYC parking laws

Here’s the Rule:

Idling of vehicle engines prohibited. Except as provided for buses in paragraph (p)(2) hereof, no person shall cause or permit the engine of any vehicle, other than a legally authorized emergency motor vehicle, to idle for longer than three (3) minutes while parking, standing or stopping unless the engine is being used to operate a loading, unloading or processing device.”

Idling in a school zone

An anti-idling law went into effect on May 11, 2009, which cuts the idling time in a school zone from three (3) minutes to sixty (60) seconds. Here’s a short, succinct article on the subject:

The fumes from idling taxicabs and delivery trucks can be so bad outside city schools that teachers race to close their classroom windows at certain times of the day to protect their students.

A new law seeks to cut that pollution by giving vehicles just 60 seconds to idle in a school zone.

The measure signed into law this month cuts the allowed idling time from three minutes to one minute around schools, and gives more city agencies the power to issue violations. It also requires an annual violations report so officials can track enforcement.

Councilman John Liu, lead sponsor of the bill, said the law was not only intended to reduce pollution in school areas — helping the city’s high child asthma rates — but was also meant to improve public awareness about idling throughout New York City.

There is no federal anti-idling law, but about 30 states and dozens of municipalities have their own measures, typically limiting time to around three to five minutes.” See Associated Press article

Commentary

Here is a great example of the power of grass root campaigns to cause NYC parking laws to be enacted for the greater good. If you are issued an NYC parking ticket for “idling,” I suggest you check the warriors description of your first time observed. Remember, you have three minutes to idle outside a school zone. The time you were first observed and the time your ticket was issued must make sense. If not, I recommend you fight the parking ticket.

For example, a client of ours received an “idling” parking ticket with a first time observed as 12 AM and a parking ticket issue time of 9 AM. Nine hours of idling is obviously a mistake. When you’re right–Fight! But, DON’T IDLE!

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