Sudbury anti-idling bylaw moves forward

A proposed anti-idling bylaw is back in the hands of Greater Sudbury's city council and will be voted on at Tuesday night's meeting.

Just a few weeks ago, city council sent the idea back to committee to be re-worked. Last night, that committee voted to send it back to city council, with two major changes.

Tickets for idling can now only be given after two minutes. The committee is also recommending a one-year education period, before the bylaw takes effect. That campaign would focus on how idling one’s car affects health and the environment.

"There's a lot of bylaws that are difficult to enforce," said councillor Claude Berthiaume. "But you do pass bylaws to show the importance of what we're trying to do."

The proposed anti-idling bylaw still has about a dozen exemptions, including leaving an engine running on cold days.

City councillor Terry Kett says he likes the idea, but can't support it, because it will require the city to hire more bylaw officers.

"I know right now it takes staff up to a week to investigate some of the concerns I have and the citizens have," Kett said. "And now we're going to add this onerous — and it will be onerous — responsibility to them."

If passed, drivers caught idling too long would pay a fine similar to parking tickets.