Civic
01-14-2008, 10:17 PM
Will this work? Are there alternatives?
Too hot? Too cold? Idle excuses for Kingston drivers re-examined
CBC January 14, 2008
Drivers in Kingston, Ont., may soon be banned from idling their engines to keep the heater on during cold days or the air conditioner on during hot weather.
The city is holding public consultations in late February on a stricter anti-idling bylaw that will remain in effect regardless of the temperature, unlike most bylaws in other cities.
The current bylaw allows drivers to idle their vehicles for as long as they want if the temperature inside a car or boat is below 5 C or above 27 C.
Kim Leonard, head of bylaw enforcement for Kingston, said she doesn't agree with the exemption.
"We really were defeating the purpose of the bylaw," she said, noting that vehicle emissions tend to be greatest when it is hot outside.
A report issued in December to the city's environment, infrastructure and transportation committee said the temperature provision was not enforceable, as bylaw officials could not determine the temperature inside the vehicle.
It recommended dropping the temperature exemption and expanding the bylaw to include areas outside the city centre.
Paul McLatchie, an engineer with the city, said full compliance with the proposed bylaw would cut the municipality's greenhouse gas emissions by one per cent, along with emissions of air pollutants that cause problems for people with lung conditions such as asthma.
If the new rules pass, they could go into effect as soon as May.
Anti-idling bylaws in Toronto, Peterborough and Ottawa all have exemptions for extreme temperatures.
Linda Anderson, who manages the City of Ottawa's bylaw department, said the temperature exemptions were put in place to accommodate people who use their vehicles as offices.
Audio
CBC Radio's JC Kenny reports (Runs: 1:20)
Play: Real Media (http://www.cbc.ca/clips/rm-audio/ot-kenny-idling-080114.rm) »
External Links
City of Kingston: Proposed expansion of idling bylaw (http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/environment/idling/index.asp)
Too hot? Too cold? Idle excuses for Kingston drivers re-examined
CBC January 14, 2008
Drivers in Kingston, Ont., may soon be banned from idling their engines to keep the heater on during cold days or the air conditioner on during hot weather.
The city is holding public consultations in late February on a stricter anti-idling bylaw that will remain in effect regardless of the temperature, unlike most bylaws in other cities.
The current bylaw allows drivers to idle their vehicles for as long as they want if the temperature inside a car or boat is below 5 C or above 27 C.
Kim Leonard, head of bylaw enforcement for Kingston, said she doesn't agree with the exemption.
"We really were defeating the purpose of the bylaw," she said, noting that vehicle emissions tend to be greatest when it is hot outside.
A report issued in December to the city's environment, infrastructure and transportation committee said the temperature provision was not enforceable, as bylaw officials could not determine the temperature inside the vehicle.
It recommended dropping the temperature exemption and expanding the bylaw to include areas outside the city centre.
Paul McLatchie, an engineer with the city, said full compliance with the proposed bylaw would cut the municipality's greenhouse gas emissions by one per cent, along with emissions of air pollutants that cause problems for people with lung conditions such as asthma.
If the new rules pass, they could go into effect as soon as May.
Anti-idling bylaws in Toronto, Peterborough and Ottawa all have exemptions for extreme temperatures.
Linda Anderson, who manages the City of Ottawa's bylaw department, said the temperature exemptions were put in place to accommodate people who use their vehicles as offices.
Audio
CBC Radio's JC Kenny reports (Runs: 1:20)
Play: Real Media (http://www.cbc.ca/clips/rm-audio/ot-kenny-idling-080114.rm) »
External Links
City of Kingston: Proposed expansion of idling bylaw (http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/environment/idling/index.asp)