
Could Warming Up Your Car in Idaho Get Your a Ticket?
This winter in Idaho hasn't been as cold or wet as most, but temperatures are still in the teens and at times single digits in the morning when it is time to get ready for work or for school. The body doesn't appreciate leaving a warm home and going into a car that is well below freezing. Driving down the road and seeing your breath is a tough way to start the day, which is why it is a good idea to warm your car up for a few minutes. When warming up your car in Idaho this winter, are you breaking the law without knowing it?
Is it Illegal to Warm Up Your Car in Idaho?
When it comes to starting your day, it is wise to turn the car on for about five to ten minutes to warm it up, but is it legal to do so in Idaho? It all depends on where you are and if you are present or leaving the car unattended. As of 2017 the legislative session, the Idaho code reads as follows:
No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the parking brake and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.
If in public you are not allowed to leave your vehicle on without being nearby, but how does this work for those with automatic starters? According to the law above, it makes it sound like warming up your car is illegal without being present, even if at home, but is that still the case?
Are You Allowed to Warm Up Your Car in Idaho?
The law has since been changed again, and it will make Idaho residents much happier, especially when it comes to warming up your car at home, or with a remote. The updated version is as follows:
No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first locking the vehicle if the engine is running, effectively setting the parking brake and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway. The provisions of this section do not apply to motor vehicles on private property.
On private property, you now have the right to have your car on without being present, as well as in a public place, you can have it on, so long as you are nearby, perhaps scraping your windows, or the doors are locked with the start of a remote.

Like any rule, there are exceptions, and in parts of Idaho, you can still be ticketed if warming up your vehicle without being present. You can read more details, by clicking the link above. Warm up and be comfortable this winter on your drive to work, but make sure to do so in a legal way.
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