Did Idle Hands Produce Idling Bylaw? CRERAR
So does Ottawa’s new emissions bylaws that came into effect at the beginning of this month have any value?
Or have the bylaws been changed for the sole purpose of creating a feel-good atmosphere at city hall?
The latest City of Ottawa emission by-laws state that a) maximum idling time will be three minutes per hour when the outside temperature is between 0 C and 27 C for occupied vehicles, b) maximum idling time will be 10 minutes per hour when the outside temperature is colder than 0 C or warmer than 27 C for occupied vehicles, c) for unoccupied vehicles, the maximum idling time limit is one minute per hour, regardless of the temperature. Did you get all that? On first read? And what’s with rule c)?
In the winter months, after a bout of freezing rain followed by plunging temperatures, how are drivers supposed to scrape the ice off the windows of their vehicles when they can’t be outside their vehicle for more than one minute? Or should we change the old maxim to “close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and proximity to vehicles during Ottawa winters when drivers are scraping ice from its windows”? Why is the city incapable of providing clear instructions when it implements change?
Also, did the people who thought up and approved the new rules do any testing prior to their decree or were the Nos. 3, 10, and 1 “plucked” out of the air?
What about OC Transpo buses that are allowed to sit idling because the driver has to make up time to synchronize the bus with the route schedule? Does three to 10 minutes of occupied idling in an OC Transpo vehicle not cause a significant amount of damage to the environment?
Do we really need to hire additional staff working at city hall when the ones already employed should be doing a better job?
Howard Crerar is a project manager and has worked in the software industry for three decades.
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Ottawa will have to hire a lot more people to police this new Idea, and each will have to have a foolproof chronometer checked regularly so as to time the multiple criminal infractions. Cabs, Ubers, Limos, chauffeured vehicles, parents waiting or dropping off the kiddies, Diplomats, BEWARE!!
Ottawa Bylaw (who right now can not enforce the current laws), will be sitting, waiting, watching YOU.
So I cannot keep my car cool when I have a dog in the car at 45 C with the humidex I guess? So I have to choose which law to break, the cruelty to animals or the idling bylaw?
It appears to be cheaper to be cruel to animals as the idling bylaw starting fine is $500
These city staff just don’t think do they?
And why do other municipalities, like Kingston allow idling over 27C?
And many other municipalities and cities have this wording in their bylaw, which of course Ottawa doesn’t , “This By-law shall not apply to prevent the reasonable Idling of a Vehicle in order to comply with the requirements of the Highway Traffic Act that require the driver of the Vehicle to have a clear view to the front, side and rear of the Vehicle through the windshield and windows. ”
So yes, the Ottawa by-law seems to contravene the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
So dumb
Does it really matter? This is just virtue signalling and will as likely be as enforceable as the original anti-idling bylaw. Unless the City plans on hiring a mass of enforcers and turning its residents into informers. If the City was serious about cracking down on idling, they would go after what is likely the largest group of idling vehicles. Those vehicles operated by the City of Ottawa and its contractors. How often have we seen idling bylaw cars, maintenance vehicles, police vehicles, etc.?
By the way, a quick Google lookup uncovered the following: “As of April 2019, most lightweight vehicles (4,500 kg) no longer need to get Emissions Tests in Ontario. The government states that this is because most modern vehicles are not a threat, compared to years ago.” It seems that with respect to vehicle emissions city hall is intent on re-inventing the wheel.
I have heart and respiratory issues that require a stable environment inside my home and my car. High and low temperatures with the accompanying too low and high humidity is a no go for me. Will the powers that be address that… rhetorical!