I know I did.
The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak approved changes Friday, to the city’s vehicle idling ordinance that aims to reduce air pollution. The ordinance limits most vehicle idling to three minutes, except in traffic.
“Most of the air pollution in Minneapolis comes from vehicles and cutting down in idling is one easy thing we can all do for our environment, our health, and the health of our neighbors,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak.
…Vehicle motors release particulate matter, dirt, nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the air. These chemicals are linked to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease and asthma and are the major source of human-caused climate change. Children are especially vulnerable to vehicle air pollution because their lungs are still developing, and they inhale more pounds of pollution per pound of body weight than adults do.Link
I feel bad for all the mechanics in the area. I hope they can go to the local Department of Car Idling Enforcement and get a Car Idling Waiver Certificate to display in proper locations, so the Car Idling Agents don’t haul them into the Car Idling Court and throw the book at them.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I’m more worried about Minnesotans freezing to death in the mornings come next winter because they can’t warm up their car in the driveway before leaving for work…
June 8th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
“The ordinance limits most vehicle idling to three minutes, except in traffic.”
…might I ask where else people make a habit of idling for long periods of time?
June 8th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
warming up there cars, people idle there cars all the time to work on them, waiting for someone, all sorts of things.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
To help prevent the next ice age, I let my car idle all night long in the driveway. No need to thank me, I’m just trying to do my part to help save the earth.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Perhaps we should ask Congress to outlaw volcanoes.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I have been living in the great state of Idaho taking classes for almost 4 years and there hasn’t been a winter like this one. It has been extreme in length and in temperature. Idaho is usually the last state where things catch on so maybe Idaho hasn’t gotten the memo on the global warming thing.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
“warming up there cars, people idle there cars all the time to work on them, waiting for someone, all sorts of things.”
…didn’t think about that.
Being that it hasn’t gotten below 80 around here for about a week and a half, warming up the car was not something on the top of my brain.
lol.
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“I have been living in the great state of Idaho taking classes for almost 4 years and there hasn’t been a winter like this one. It has been extreme in length and in temperature.”
Not alone, buddy. Michigan had one of the snowiest winters on record this year.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
CBL,
IF we outlawed Volcanoes it’s a slippery slope. Next we would outlaw droughts and then earthquakes. Where would it end?
June 8th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I’m waiting for Ted to tell us that the passage of this ordinance demonstrates why McCain must select Sarah Palin to be Veep.
June 8th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
CBL. . .perhaps we should outlaw gaseous cows too.
June 8th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
At this point, I’d be tempted to move to Minneapolis just to vote against these people.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Solve the traffic problem and you solve the idling problem. That is funny they went after the .05% of the people that idle in their driveway for 5 minutes but allow the 95% that idle in the freeway parking lots.
Those darn volcanoes. Would someone please get a cork.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:09 am
In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything artificial about earthquakes.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I have never seen such an ant-drive-through regulation in all my life. Hundreds of Minnesota Idling Police with stop watches patrolling the lanes at the local drive through bank…. and McDonalds!
June 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
On second thought, I;’d volunteer to police the lanes at Starbucks. I hate coffee.