HomeMy WebLinkAbout3292 Relating to Vehicle Idling and Adding Chapter 10.08 to the Port Townsend Municipal Code (2)Ordinance 3292
ORDINANCE NO.3292
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, RELATING
TO VEHICLE IDLING AND ADDING CHAPTER 10.08 TO THE PORT TOWNSEND
MUNICIPAL CODE
RECITALS:
1. The United States Department of Energy reports that one hour of car idling wastes up to
.5 gallon of fuel, releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, and contributes to ground -level
ozone. In the United States, annual personal vehicle idling wastes approximately three
billion gallons of fuel per year and generates 30 million tons of carbon dioxide. US
Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy "Idling Reduction for
Personal Vehicles"
2. Argonne National Laboratory conducted a series of tests and determined that idling for
more than ten seconds uses more fuel than restarting a car engine. Gaines, L., Rask, E.,
and Keller, G. "Which is Greener: Idle, or Stop and Restart?" Argonne National
Laboratory.
3. In an effort to be more sustainable and improve air quality, the City Council seeks to
limit vehicle idling in the Port Townsend City limits.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend ordains as
follows:
Section 1. A new chapter 10.08 — Vehicle Idling of the City of Port Townsend
Municipal Code is hereby added to the Port Townsend Municipal Code as shown on Exhibit A,
Section 2. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any
person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance, or the application of the
provision to other persons or circumstances, is not affected.
Section 3. Publication. This Ordinance shall be published by an approved summary
consisting of the title.
Section 4 Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days
after the date of its publication in the manner provided by law.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting
thereof, held this 5th day of July, 2022.
'dt,(o,t'•' .
City Clerk
Davit J. Faber
Mayor
I-Ici da►s to
Green City Attorney
Ordinance 3292
Exhibit A
Chapter 10.08
VEHICLE IDLING
Sections:
10.08.010
Intent.
10.08.020
Definitions
10.08.030
Property Subject to this Chapter.
10.08.040
Idling Restriction Within City Limits,.
10.08.050
Penalties.
10.08.010 Intent.
The purpose of this chapter is primarily educational, as well as to protect the public health and
improve the environment by reducing emissions while conserving fuel. The City Council
er�eog ar :fit edtwation ratlier than penalties in the enkrrcenient of this C'har Ater partieularl liar
first offenses.
10.08.020 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, these definitions shall apply:
A. "Driver" means any person who drives, operates, or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
B. "Idle" means the operation of a vehicle's internal combustion engine while the vehicle is
stationary or not in the act of performing work or its normal function.
C. "Vehicle" means any self-propelled vehicle that is required to be registered and have a
license plate by the Washington Department of Licensing.
10.08.030 Property Subject to this Chapter.
This chapter shall be enforceable on all public property and on private property that is open to
the general public.
10.08.040 Idling Restriction Within City Limits.
No driver, while operating a vehicle within city limits, shall cause or permit a vehicle's internal
combustion engine to idle for more than three (3) minutes, except for the following kinds of
idling:
A. Idling while stopped:
1. For an official traffic control device;
2. For an official traffic control signal;
3. At the direction of a police officer;
B. Idling as needed for the health or safety of a driver or passenger, including police K-9 or
other service animals, or when the temperature is at or below 30 degrees Fahrenheit or at or
above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ordinance 3292
Exhibit A
C. Idling as needed for authorized emergency or law enforcement vehicles to operate
equipment.
D. Idling as needed for repair, maintenance or inspection of the vehicle.
E. Idling as needed for the period recommended by the manufacturer for efficient operations of
a turbocharged heavy-duty vehicle. This includes building air pressure in air brake systems,
among other requirements.
F. Idling as needed to operate auxiliary equipment for which the vehicle was primarily designed
or equipped, such as: emergency equipment, refrigeration unit, lift, crane, pump, drill, hoist, or
ready mixed equipment, except a heater or air condition.
10.08.050 Penalties.
Violation of this chapter is a civil infraction punishable by a fine of $50.00.