What's happening
This bill prohibits heavy duty vehicles from idling more than five minutes, with specific exceptions for certain conditions and uses.
Why it matters
Addresses both operators and landowners. The bill holds not just vehicle drivers but also those who lease, own, or control land responsible for enforcing anti-idling rules, potentially affecting businesses, landlords, and logistics hubs.
Multiple exceptions balance practicality and enforcement. By allowing idling in cases like extreme cold, emergency services, specific industrial or agricultural uses, and compliance with other regulations, the law aims to avoid unintended disruption to critical services and industries.
Potential impact on air quality and public health. Reducing unnecessary idling is likely to lower emissions from heavy vehicles, which are major contributors to urban air pollution and related health issues such as asthma and cardiovascular problems.
Enforcement could change driver and industry behavior. With the Department of Motor Vehicles set to assign points for violations, drivers and companies may face increased incentives to comply, possibly prompting broader adoption of cleaner technologies or operational changes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Truck Idling Time
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Held for consideration in transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3475
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. RAIA, McKEVITT, FINCH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to idling of heavy duty vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 52 to read as follows:
52. (a) No person who owns, operates or leases a heavy duty vehicle including a bus or truck, the motive power for which is provided by a diesel or nondiesel fueled engine or who owns, leases or occupies land and has the actual or apparent dominion or control over the operation of a heavy duty vehicle including a bus or truck present on such land, the motive power for which said heavy duty vehicle is provided by a diesel or non-diesel fueled engine shall allow or permit the engine of such heavy duty vehicle to idle for more than five consecutive minutes when the heavy duty vehicle is not in motion.
(b) The prohibitions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall not apply when:
(i) A diesel or nondiesel fueled heavy duty vehicle including a bus or truck is forced to remain motionless because of the traffic conditions over which the operator thereof has no control.
(ii) Regulations adopted by federal, state or local agencies having jurisdiction require the maintenance of a specific temperature for passenger comfort. The idling time specified in paragraph (a) of this subdivision may be increased, but only to the extent necessary to comply with such regulations.
(iii) A diesel or nondiesel fueled engine is being used to provide power for an auxiliary purpose, such as loading, discharging, mixing or processing cargo, controlling cargo temperature, construction, lumber-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06875-01-7
A. 3475 2
ing, oil or gas well servicing, farming, or when operation of the engine is required for the purpose of maintenance.
(iv) Fire, police and public utility trucks or other vehicles are performing emergency services.
(v) Trucks owned or operated by persons engaged in mining and quarrying are used within the confines of such person's property.
(vi) A diesel fueled truck remains motionless for a period exceeding two hours, and during which period the ambient temperature is continuously below twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit.
(vii) A heavy duty diesel vehicle, as defined in NYCRR6, that is queued for or is undergoing a state authorized periodic or roadside diesel emissions inspection to NYCRR6.
(viii) A hybrid electric vehicle, as defined in NYCRR6, idling for the purpose of providing energy for battery or other form of energy storage recharging.
(ix) Heavy duty vehicles used for agricultural purposes on a farm.
(x) Electric powered vehicles.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. The commissioner of motor vehicles shall promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the implementation of this act and shall assign points for violations of section one of this act as the commissioner of motor vehicles deems appropriate.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.