Fined for leaving your engine running

[upsidedown]

Story in this morning's Metro about Lincolnshire County Council's intention to fine drivers who leave their engines running in traffic.

Predictably the Daily Wail has the story with the inevitable comments below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-face-fine-leaving-engine-running-parked.html

 

[MadoneRider1991]

sounds a pretty gd idea to me!! would save people petrol too

 

[mr_cellophane]

Story in this morning's Metro about Lincolnshire County Council's intention to fine drivers who leave their engines running in traffic.

Predictably the Daily Wail has the story with the inevitable comments below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-face-fine-leaving-engine-running-parked.html

That is not what it says. It says they will fine people who leave their engines running while parked. I totally agree with this. Like those stupid people who get up in the morning and start their cars then go back indoors while it warms up. Then they complain when someone comes along and helps themselves to it.

 

[upsidedown]

I think it's a great idea too, anything that stirs up the Mail readership gets my vote.

 

[thomas]

Sounds stupid. There are times, that when parked, it is more economical to leave the engine on than turn it off and start it back up a few moments later.

There would be much better ways of improving air conditions than this.


Legally, I'm not really sure what right the council have to enforce this fines?

 

[jeltz]

It states without reason. De-icing/de-misting is OK and I suspect that keeping warm would also be a valid reason too.

I guess that it would apply more to yoofs parked up with music blaring, headlights blazing and engines running to power them.

 

[BentMikey]

Slightly OT, but isn't it illegal to leave your car running when you're not in it and not around to pay attention to it? I think that would invalidate your insurance.

 

[thomas]

Slightly OT, but isn't it illegal to leave your car running when you're not in it and not around to pay attention to it? I think that would invalidate your insurance.

I doubt it. It's not illegal to leave your door open when you're not at home.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Highway Code
123

The Driver and the Environment. You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road. Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution. However it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.

[Law CUR regs 98 & 107]

 

[BentMikey]

Fanks, I thought I was correct!

 

[Barbelier]

I doubt it. It's not illegal to leave your door open when you're not at home.

Apparently it is:

offence is against S42 of the RTA 1988.

Regulation 107(2)(a). This states that no person shall cause or permit to be on any road any motor vehicle which is not attended by a person duly licensed to drive it unless the engine is stopped and the parking brake is effectively set. Exemptions to the requirements of this Regulation as to the stopping of the engine include a fire brigade vehicle, the engine of which is being used for any fire brigade purpose.​

See the following forum:​

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.u...e/113084-legality-leaving-engine-running.html​

 

[mr_cellophane]

Fanks, I thought I was correct!

Your welcome. I got that posted on the DM site as well. Lets see what comments that gets.

 

[Trevrev]

Like those stupid people who get up in the morning and start their cars then go back indoors while it warms up. Then they complain when someone comes along and helps themselves to it.

Thanks for pointing out that i'm stupid, cos i always let my car run to de-frost it.
God i'm so thick !!!! hahahahaha..........

 

[Beardie]

The mention of leaving the engine running to defrost the screen is rather timely. Working as a postman years ago, this was almost universal among the car drivers on my walk on frosty mornings. Not only does this leave the cars vulnerable to theives, but it doesn't actually melt the ice unless you leave the engine idling for about 15mins. They all ended up scraping it anyway.

The best of it was that they all had garages, so could easily have kept the frost off the car to start with!

 

[BentMikey]

It's not exactly the best way to deice a windscreen, IMO.