Turn off your idling vehicle in Kelowna or face $150 fine

Anyone idling their vehicle for more than a minute in Kelowna will face a $150 fine if caught doing it more than once.

Kelowna city council is being asked to make that the law on Monday, July 11.

There won't be a fine for the first offence but future offences will result $150 tickets each time.

The bylaw will prohibit people from idling their vehicles for more than one minute at a time in places like public garages, parking lots, drive-thru lines, pick-up and drop-off locations and on city streets.

There are exemptions for things like police, fire and transit. Some work vehicles that need their engines running to do their jobs are also exempt as long as they are not disturbing the neighbours. Vehicles stuck in gridlock on highways or stopped because of an emergency or mechanical difficulties are also exempt.

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While city council is being asked to adopt the new measures on Monday, it will take some time before they are fully enforced.

City staff are looking at doing a study in September and October on why people are idling their vehicles, barriers to them stopping and ways to get the message out about the new rules.

It will be six months before they’re fully enforced.

“The idling control bylaw would be complaint-based and is educational in nature,” the report to council says. “The Air Quality Coordinator would be the recipient of all idling complaints, with only the most egregious of complaints (repeat offenders) being forwarded to Bylaw Services for follow-up.”

The idea behind the bylaw is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

READ MORE: Anti-idling bylaw on its way in Kelowna

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