City proposes $250 fine for idling vehicles

Edmonton drivers who idle their vehicles for more than three minutes could face a $250 fine if city council passes a proposed bylaw that was made public Thursday.

The prohibition would apply only when the temperature is above –10 C.

Emergency vehicles, armoured vehicles that are being loaded or unloaded and vehicles that need to run in order for their ventilation systems to clear windows of condensation are some of the proposed exceptions to the bylaw. It will be discussed by council's transportation and public works committee on Tuesday.

The city plans to rely on citizens to make complaints and provide evidence. 

Coun. Don Iveson said that type of enforcement shouldn't cause any problems.

"Most laws actually work that way," he said. "Laws aren't enforced because there's someone with a ticket book, or someone with a billy club enforcing them all the time.

"Laws work because they're reasonable and people support them and they govern themselves accordingly."

But not all of Iveson's council colleagues agreed.

"I think that this is pretty ridiculous that that's the enforcement that we're going to apply to this bylaw," said Coun. Tony Caterina.

It would be cumbersome for people to make complaints, particularly if the issue is disputed in court and they have to testify, Caterina said.

"I don't know how you would enforce it in a court of law," he said. "That part hasn't been explained either."

All the calls and emails Caterina has received from his constituents are against the idea of a bylaw. A public education campaign is all that is needed, he said.

In April 2008, the city launched an anti-idling education campaign with advertising on billboards, buses and radio stations.

Last fall, the city held public meetings, stakeholder meetings and posted an online questionnaire to gather opinions about the idling issue.

The majority of the 622 people who participated in the consultations wanted an anti-idling bylaw, according to a report from city administration. Only 10 per cent of respondents said a bylaw was not needed.

The city already has an anti-idling policy for its fleet, requiring transit buses, fire trucks and other vehicles to turn off their engines when they are stopped longer than a few minutes in non-emergency situations.