What's happening
This bill limits passenger vehicle engine idling to three minutes, with exceptions, and establishes penalties for repeat violations.
Why it matters
Targets everyday vehicles, including taxis and rideshares, but excludes electric cars, focusing on reducing emissions from traditional passenger transportation.
Includes a range of exceptions—for cold weather, children or pets in the car, disability-related transport, traffic, and emergency/maintenance needs—balancing public health goals with practical concerns.
Allows local laws (such as NYC’s) to remain in effect if they are as strict or stricter, meaning some areas could have even tighter idling rules, so the impact may vary by location.
Implements a warning system for first-time offenders and modest fines for repeat violations, signaling an emphasis on education and gradual enforcement rather than immediate heavy penalties.
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Who cares
Passenger-vehicle drivers
The bill would cap stationary engine idling at three consecutive minutes, with a warning for a first knowing or intentional violation and a possible civil penalty of up to $150 for a subsequent violation.
Taxi and livery operators
Their vehicles would fall under the idling limit, with exceptions including uncontrollable traffic conditions and compliance with agency temperature requirements for passenger comfort.
Drivers transporting children, pets or people with disabilities
The bill would exempt vehicles containing children or pets and idling needed for the safe loading, unloading or transport of people with disabilities.
New York City and other local governments
The bill would preserve local idling laws that are at least as stringent as its requirements.
Headline styles
Limit Car Idling to 3 Minutes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Limit Car Idling to 3 Minutes
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Christopher Eachus
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
261
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- 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 the idling time of passenger 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 19-0333 to read as follows: § 19-0333. Emissions from passenger vehicles; limitations.
1. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Passenger vehicle" shall mean any motor vehicle, light-duty truck with a gross vehicle weight of eighty-five hundred pounds or less, or any other vehicle whose primary use is noncommercial personal transportation. Such definition shall also include "motorcycle", "taxicab" and "livery" as such terms are defined in article one of the vehicle and traffic law and shall not include electric vehicles as defined in subdivision one of section 66-s of the public service law.
(b) "Hybrid-electric vehicle" shall mean any passenger vehicle which draws propulsion from both an internal combustion engine (or heat engine that uses combustible fuel), an energy storage device and employs a regenerative vehicle braking system that recovers waste energy to charge such energy storage device.
2. No person shall allow or permit the engine of a passenger vehicle to idle for more than three consecutive minutes when the passenger vehicle is not in motion, except that this provision shall not apply when:
(a) such vehicle is forced to remain motionless because of traffic conditions over which the operator thereof has no control;
(b) regulations adopted by a federal, state or local agency having jurisdiction require the maintenance of a specific temperature for
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00392-01-5
passenger comfort, in which case the idling time may be increased to the extent necessary to comply with such regulations;
(c) a hybrid-electric vehicle is idling for the purpose of providing energy for the battery or other form of energy storage recharging;
(d) the ambient air temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) or less;
(e) when operation of the engine is required for the purpose of maintenance;
(f) such vehicle is idling for the purpose of ensuring the safe loading, unloading, or transport of persons with one or more disabilities;
(g) such vehicle contains one or more children or pets; or
(h) such vehicle is a military tactical vehicle used in military training operations.
3. This section shall not apply to the operation of authorized emergency vehicles, as defined by section one hundred one of the vehicle and traffic law and other emergency vehicles and equipment while performing in the scope of their duties.
4. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preempt any provision of local law, including, but not limited to section 24-163 of the administrative code of the city of New York, provided that the provisions of such local law are at least as stringent as the provisions of this section.
5. Any person who knowingly or intentionally violates any provision of this section shall, upon the first finding of such a violation, be provided with a warning that future violations may result in the imposition of a civil penalty. Any person convicted of a subsequent violation may be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars.
§ 2. Severability clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 the idling time of passenger vehicles
Purpose or general idea
To prohibit the idling of any passenger vehicle for more than 3 consec- utive minutes. This bill is designed to improve air quality in New York State. It seeks to address the fact that more than half of New York's 19 million residents live in counties where unhealthy air endangers their lives and health.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill amends the environmental conservation law by adding a new section 19-0333. This new section:
1. Defines passenger vehicle and hybrid-electric vehicle.
2. Prohibits the idling of passenger vehicles for more than three consecutive minutes except when the vehicle is:
(a) motionless because of traffic conditions;
(b) federal, state, or local regulations require a specific temperature for passenger comfort;
(c) a hybrid-electric vehicle is idling to provide energy to the battery or other energy recharging storage;
(d) the ambient air temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less;
(e) required for maintenance;
(f) loading, unloading, or transport of persons with one or more disa- bilities to ensure safety;
(g)children or pets are in the vehicle;
(h) used in military training operations.
3. Exempts from the section the operation of authorized emergency vehi- cles and other emergency vehicles and equipment while performing in the scope of their duties.
4. Provides that no local law shall be preempted by this section provided that the provisions of such local law are at least as stringent as the provisions of this section.
5. Provides that any person who knowingly or intentionally violates any provision of this section shall upon the first finding of a violation be provided with a warning and that future violations may result in a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars.
Justification
The American Lung Association's State of the Air 2016 report found that nearly half of New York's 19 million residents live in counties where unhealthy air endangers their lives and health. Based on data from 2012-2014, 12 of the 24 counties in New York State with air quality monitors received failing grades.
In addition, gasoline-powered vehicles contribute to the State's poor air quality through emissions of particulates, nitrogen oxides (N0x), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the latter two pollutants being precursors for the formation of ground-level ozone. Exposure to ozone has been consistently linked to respiratory problems, including asthma exacerbation and other respiratory diseases. Furthermore, gasoline-pow- ered vehicles emit carbon dioxide, thus contributing to global warming.
Presently, the environmental conservation law prohibits heavy-duty vehi- cles including diesel trucks and buses, from idling for more than five consecutive minutes. In addition, at least twenty two municipalities, including cities, counties, villages, and towns in New York have adopted anti-idling laws or regulations.
Legislative history
2022-2024: S1178C/A8289 - Died in Environmental Conservation/Died in Codes
2021-2022: S2996A/A2045 - Died in Environmental Conservation
2019-2020: S8634/A1698 - Died in Health/Died in Codes
2017-2018: A923A/S1502A - Died in Environmental Conservation
2015-2016: A315/S7035 - Died in Environmental Conservation
2013-2014: A1228A - Died in Environmental Conservation
2011-2012: A7606 - Died in Environmental Conservation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The one hundred eightieth day after it shall become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.