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In Wake of Fatal Incidents, Fines for Idling Cars Could Go Up
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 25, 2009
Modified Mar 25, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 25, 2009
Modified Mar 25, 2009
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Go nuts, punctuation sticklers. This sign, which either admonishes drivers for leaving their engines idling or encourages loafing youths to hold their breath, was recently spotted outside P.S. 277 in Brooklyn. Besides contributing to global warming, CO2 emissions from vehicles are a major factor in NYC's high childhood asthma rates; the malady is the most common cause of hospitalization for New York children 14 years and younger. Last month, Mayor Bloomberg signed a law reducing the permitted idling time near schools from three minutes to one minute, with potential fines ranging from $220 to $2,000 for repeat offenders.
But rookie Queens Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley says that reform doesn't go far enough. She represents the district where, last month, a drunken driver stole an unoccupied idling car and fatally struck two pedestrians; earlier this year, an idling truck crashed into a group of pre-schoolers, killing two, in Chinatown. Currently, the fine for idling outside of school zones is just $5, which Crowley described as a "severe penalty" when the law was written, in 1971. If her proposal passes, it would increase to $250.
She tells City Room that besides improving air quality, "this has to do with more how irresponsible it is to leave your car unattended. It’s sort of like inviting a crime." According to the Times, 10% of car thefts in the precinct where the Queens accident took place start with an unattended idling car (and almost 100% of those cars are owned by complete idiots.)
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idling car
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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