What's happening
This bill prohibits heavy-duty vehicles from idling for more than three minutes, with certain exemptions and local law protections.
Why it matters
Targets air quality and public health. By limiting heavy-duty vehicle idling to three minutes, the bill aims to reduce emissions of pollutants linked to asthma, heart disease, and other health issues, particularly in urban areas and near schools.
Allows flexibility for special situations. The Department of Environmental Conservation can create exemptions and update rules as needed, meaning the law can adapt to operational realities (such as extreme weather or specific vehicle types).
Preserves stronger local protections. The bill explicitly allows cities and towns to enact stricter anti-idling laws and does not override existing local ordinances, empowering communities to address their unique air quality challenges.
Emphasizes enforcement through education. The law mandates outreach and educational materials for law enforcement, suggesting a focus on compliance and awareness—potentially leading to more consistent, informed enforcement statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Truck Engine Idling
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 26
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2348
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting idling by heavy-duty vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 19-0326 to read as follows: § 19-0326. Prohibition on idling by heavy-duty vehicles.
1. No person shall allow or permit the idling of a heavy-duty vehicle for more than three minutes except as otherwise provided by the department in regulation.
2. The department may adopt and update, from time to time, regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section. The regulations shall include any exemptions deemed by the department to be necessary or appropriate.
3. As used in this section "heavy-duty vehicle" means a vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding eight thousand five hundred pounds designed primarily for transporting persons or properties.
4. The department, in cooperation with the department of motor vehicles, shall conduct outreach and provide educational materials on the provisions of this section to law enforcement officers throughout the state.
5. No local law or ordinance governing the idling of heavy-duty vehicles shall be preempted by this section. This section shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles as defined in section one hundred one of the vehicle and traffic law that are exempt from the idling restrictions set forth in section 24-163 of the administrative code of the city of New York.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02353-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting idling by heavy-duty vehicles
Purpose
This legislation seeks to reduce the overall air pollution in New York state by prohibiting more than three consecutive minutes of idling by heavy duty vehicles.
Summary of provisions
This bill amends the environmental conservation law by adding a new section 19-0326 to prohibit idling by heavy-duty vehicles for more than three minutes.
This bill complements regulations (6NYCRR § 217-3.2) that the Department of Environmental Conservation administers. This legislation would estab- lish idling in excess of three minutes as a violation.
Justification
Idling engines are a significant source of pollution, have negative health effects, especially increasing asthma rates, and decrease the quality of life for New York State residents. An idling vehicle releases more pollution than a vehicle that is in motion. This bill seeks to reduce the amount of dangerous emissions released into the air from certain heavy-duty vehicles by preventing them from idling for longer than three consecutive minutes. This bill allows reasonable exceptions while ensuring that unnecessary idling is curtailed.
Legislative history
2018: S7085 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 2017: 5487/A8558 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION/ stricken 2016: S2353/A5711 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION/ referred to environmental conservation 2015: S2353/A5711 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION/ referred to environmental conservation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect the 90th day after becoming a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.