Did you know that Ottawa’s anti-idling by-law, which came into effect on September 1st, 2007, is now being enforced? In a nutshell, if the temperature is between 5 C and 27 C, including the windchill and humidex, respectively, you are not allowed to idle your vehicle for more than 3 minutes in a 60 minute period and someone has to be in the vehicle if it is idling. You’re only allowed to idle your vehicle during extreme temperatures when the vehicle is occupied. If you’re not in it, it can’t be idling. Among the exemptions, which include emergency vehicles, buses while passengers are getting on or off and farm vehicles, are hybrid vehicles and vehicles that “eliminate the emission of green house gases and criteria air contaminants during the idling phase of operation”. (There are some exceptions for people with documented medical conditions, too.)

The daytime temperatures in Ottawa over the next few days are forecast to be as high as 10 C. If it’s not too windy, we may well hear about the first fine being issued to someone idling their car when they shouldn’t.