# Presentation: 278323

## State and Local Idling Laws

- EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership
- July 19, 2006

## Background 1

- Why do trucks idle?
- Non-Discretionary:  traffic light, traffic.
- Discretionary (but necessary):  during legally mandated rest period for cab comfort purposes (heat, cooling); engine conditioning.

## Background 2

- How long do they idle?
- 1,000 – 3,000 hours per year, or 40%-50% of total engine operating time.
- How many truck idle for extended periods?
****500,000 Class 8 heavy-duty diesel vehicles
- Impacts:
- 2 billion gallons of fuel consumed ($5 billion)
- 11 million tons of CO2 (GHG)
- 180,000 tons of NOx (Ozone)
- 5,000 tons of PM
- Impaired driver health and safety; noise; increased maintenance costs and shortened engine life.

## Background 3

- What are the alternatives to idling:
- Mobile technologies
- Auxiliary power units
- Direct Fired Heaters
- Battery/electric HVAC systems
- Stationary technologies
- Electrified parking spaces (also known as “truck stop electrification”)
- For more info:  http://www.epa.gov/smartway/idlingalternatives.htm
- Key Point:  alternatives are available, affordable, and effective.

## Idle Restriction Laws

- Federal:  Not Applicable
- State:  15 state-wide
- Counties/Towns:  90 (in 30 states)
- List of State/Local laws:  http://www.epa.gov/smartway/idle-state.htm
- Original Intent:  reduce emissions and noise
- Compliance: generally poor
- Enforcement:  generally low priority
- Some active enforcement programs:  MA, CT, NY

## Concerns:  Inconsistency

- State vs. State
- New York:  5 minute limit; 10 exemptions
- New Jersey:  3 minute limit; 10 exemptions
- State vs. County
- New York State:  5 minute limit; 10 exemptions
- NY Counties/Towns:  Brighton (15 min.), Bronkville (3 min; 2 exemptions), Clifton Park (10 min), Flower Hill (2 min.), Ithaca (5 min; 4 exemptions), Lawrence (3 min., 2 exemptions), Mamaroneck (5 min., 2 exemptions), Milton (10 min), New Rochelle (5 min), NYC (3 min., 1 exemption), North Salem (5 min.; 2 exemptions), Northport (5 min.; 5 exemptions), Nyack (5 min), Port Chester (3 min.; 2 exemptions)
- Key Point:  knowledge of each state by state, or county/town within a state is difficult to know, absent signage and/or education.

## Concerns:  Impracticality

- Weather exemption that allow idling for heat:
- PA:  below 40 degrees F
- NY:  below 25 degrees F
- DC:  below 32 degrees F
- CT:  below 20 degrees F
- Average U.S. household winter thermostat setting:  70 degrees F
- Key Point:  many of the laws were written without input from the intended audience (truck drivers).

## Status of State/Local Laws

- Easy:  state/local jurisdictions view enacting laws as their response to citizen complaints
- Lack of Compliance:  absent a more consistent, practical law, truck drivers will not comply with these laws making the law ineffective.
- Lack of Enforcement:  faced with competing priorities, law enforcement will not actively enforce idling laws

## EPA-Trucking Industry-States

- Develop model state idling law
- Goal:  bring states and truck drivers/owners together, in small workshop setting, to reach agreement on model law
- Help 5 public workshops in Summer 2005: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, New Haven, and San Francisco.
- EPA’s Role:
- Not promulgating any type of regulation regarding vehicle idling.
- Our role is that of a facilitator on behalf of Federal government.
- This model does not represent EPA or any other federal government department or agency views regarding idling laws.

## Model State Idling Law (Highlights)

- Model Idling Law and Workshop Summaries:  http://www.epa.gov/smartway/idle-state.htm
- Purpose:  in addition to emissions and noise, the need to conserve fuel and maintain adequate rest and safety of all truck drivers.
- Applicability:  in addition to truck drivers, applies to locations where trucks idle (load/unload locations), but not truck stops (due to lack of control).
- Exemptions:
- Traffic; safety or health emergency; law enforcement; maintenance; work related operations.

## Key Provision

- Sleeper Berth Idling:  allows idling for cab comfort purposes _until_ the state implements a financial assistance program for idle reduction technologies (then sleeper berth idling is prohibited).
- Rationale:
- Simply passing a law prohibiting sleeper berth idling may not achieve the goal of the law and places the financial burden squarely on an industry that lacks the resources to adopt such technologies.
- Without financial assistance and based on low priority enforcement, truck drivers may simply pay the fine as a cost of doing business.
- Lose-Lose situation

## Examples of State Financial Assistance Programs for IRTs

*Arkansas and Minnesota*: Low cost loans for IRTs
*Oregon:* (Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority) “Everybody Wins”
- Low cost lease-to-own program for IRTs
- Expanding to include SmartWay Upgrade Kits (incl IRTs) along the I-5 Corridor
*California:  *
- AB 1901 creates revolving loan program for SmartWay Upgrade Kits (incl. IRTs)
- AB 2647 creates revolving loan program for Truck Parking Space Electrification
- Carl Moyer Program offers incentives for installing IRTs.
*Washington*:  SB 6512 creates tax credits and incentives for IRTs
*Pennsylvania*: Grant and loan program for IRTs
- Texas:  Texas Emission Reduction Program offers grants for IRTs
*Virginia:  *Small business loan program for IRTs
*Ohio*:  HB 245 creates grant and revolving loan program for diesel projects
*Wisconsin*:  Truck idling reduction grant program

## Ways to Improve Effectiveness 1

- 1) Adopt model law (consistent/practical)
- 2) Proper training of LE, especially empowering Parking Enforcement Officers to issue idling tickets
- 3) Post signs at all high idle locations (truck stops, distribution centers, etc.)
- 4) Post hotline telephone number to report violations
- 5) Issue mock tickets as warnings

## Ways to Improve Effectiveness 2

- 6) Publish and distribute directory of state/local idling laws with specifics at all truck stops
- 7) Include state law in SIP to increase potential enforcement and receive ERCs
- 8) Establish data tracking system for repeat violators within state
- 9) Encourage creation of “idle-free zones” as part of EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership for truck stop owners/operators
- 	- Includes state offer of “enforcement discretion” (no active enforcement) at locations that sign on to implementing idle-free zones