Mamaroneck to Add Fine to Anti-Idling Law

If you're caught running your engine while parked for more than five minutes in the Town of Mamaroneck, you could be slapped with a $75 fine.

Though the town has an anti-idling law in place that prohibits running the engine while parked if the temperature exceeds 40 degrees, the original law did not have a maximum penalty in place for violators.

In the Village of Larchmont, idlers can be hit with a $50 fine; in the Village of Mamaroneck, there is a $75 charge for the first violation, $150 for the second and $225 for the third if they are received within the same year.

Idling laws–in place in NYC since the early 1970s—are intended to reduce air pollution, particularly around schools, where children are at risk of breathing harmful chemicals.

"The law does take into account temperature, so if it's a certain heat level or cold level, you are allowed to idle your car but when it's 65 degrees out and perfectly beautiful, there doesn't seem to be an adequate reason to idle your car," said Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson.

The board voted to set a public hearing to amend the current law to add a $75 maximum fine, to May 15.