New York City Anti-Idling Law
In New York City, vehicle idling is illegal if it lasts more than 3 minutes or more than 1 minute when adjacent to a school. This includes buses and delivery trucks.
There are a few exceptions:
When the temperature is less than 40 degrees F (for vehicles having a seating capacity of 15 or more passengers, such as a bus)
When the engine is powering a loading, unloading, or processing device
When the vehicle is a legally authorized emergency vehicle, such as an ambulance.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enforces the idling law. Fines range from $350 to $2,000.
New York State Anti-Idling Law
Under New York State law, heavy duty diesel trucks and buses may not idle for more than 5 minutes in a row unless the temperature is less than 25 degrees F and the vehicle is stopped for 2 hours.
There are exceptions to the law, including:
When the engine is powering an auxiliary function such as loading cargo, unloading cargo, or mixing concrete
When running the engine is required for maintenance
When fire, police, utility, or other vehicles are performing emergency services
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) enforces this law. Fines range from $250 to $15,000.
