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Bill Looks To Outlaw Idling Cars

Plan Aimed To Reduce Air Pollution

POSTED: 4:22 pm EDT April 9, 2008
UPDATED: 7:03 pm EDT April 9, 2008

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban trucks and cars from idling for more than three minutes.

The bill is part of a new plan to help reduce air pollution in Connecticut.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Dan Kain reported that the bill has passed a number of committees by wide margins.

"There are people who will go to run into a store, and after 5 or 10 minutes or more, the car is still out there idling," said Rep. Richard Roy, D-Milford. "We're trying to get that to stop."

Kain reported that, if passed, the law wouldn't apply to those waiting in line at drive-through windows or when it's 20 degrees or lower outside. The law also wouldn't apply to those defrosting their cars for safety when it is over 20 degrees.

Enforcement of the law would fall to local police officers, many of whom said that while the bill may be well intentioned, they are already stretched thin.

"It's going to be another bit of time out of an officer's day," said Chief James Strillacci of the West Hartford Police Department. "He's going to have other things to do and not pay attention to this so … it may be a good symbolic bill more than anything else."

If passed, those found in violation would be fined $90.

The bill has passed the environment, transportation and public safety committees and must now be voted on in the Senate.

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