Kingston, Ontario Idling By-Law

Type: By-law1
Status: Adopted on 5/20/08
Source File: http://www.cityofkingston.ca/pdf/bylaws/bl_2008-95.pdf
Text:
BY-LAW NO. 2008-95
A BY-LAW OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF KINGSTON TO CONTROL THE IDLING OF VEHICLES AND BOATS
WHEREAS Section 10.2 (6) of the Municipal Act, R.S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended, authorizes the
City Council of a local municipality to pass by-laws and make regulations for the health, safety and wellbeing
of the persons of the municipality in matters not specifically provided for by the Municipal Act;
AND WHEREAS under Section 425. (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, C.25, as amended,
a municipality may pass by-laws providing that a person who contravenes a by-law of the municipality
passed under this Act is guilty of an offence. 3006, c, 32, Schedule. A, s. 184.;
AND WHEREAS boats and vehicles are major sources of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide,
sulphur dioxides and volatile organic compounds in the City of Kingston’s outdoor air;
NOW THEREFORE the City Council of the Corporation of the City of Kingston enacts as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS:
In this by-law:
“Agricultural Equipment” means equipment that is operated on agricultural property.
“Agricultural Property” means a property that is zoned for agricultural use in the zoning by-law
that applies to the property.
“Boat” means a ship or any other description of vessel not propelled by oars and includes a boat
used exclusively for towing purposes, a water taxi and a boat used on water for living
purposes.
“City” and “City of Kingston” mean The Corporation of the City of Kingston, as incorporated on
January 1, 1998.
“Idle” and “idling” mean the operation of the engine of a vehicle or boat while the vehicle or boat is
not in motion.
“Emergency Vehicles and Emergency Boats” includes an ambulance, a fire department vehicle
or boat, police and any other public agency vehicle or boat being used to respond to an
emergency.
“Mobile Workshop” means a vehicle containing equipment that must be operated inside or in
association with the vehicle, or a vehicle serving as a facility for taking measurements or
making observations or conducting maintenance, delivery of service or construction.
”Transit Vehicle” means a school bus, tour bus, motor coach, and public transportation bus
“Tour Boat” means a water vessel that carries paying passengers on a regular route.
“Vehicle” means a motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor or road building machine as
defined in the Highway Traffic Act and any vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of
non-muscular power.
2. APPLICATION
2.1 This By-Law Applies to:
* Private property;
* Public property;
* Highways forming part of the road system under the jurisdiction of The Corporation of the City of Kingston.
3. GENERAL REGULATIONS
3.1 No person shall cause or permit a vehicle or boat to idle for more than three (3) minutes in a
sixty (60) minute period.
3.2 Section 3.1 shall not apply when the outside temperature as recorded by Environment
Canada is less than five degrees Celsius (5º C.). No person shall cause or permit a vehicle
or boat to idle for more then five (5) minutes in a sixty (60) minute period when the outside
temperature is less than five degrees Celsius (5º C.).
3.3 No person shall obstruct, hinder or otherwise interfere with an authorized employee of the
City or with any authorized peace officer while carrying out an investigation, making
inquiries, or performing their duties for the purposes of enforcing this by-law.
4. EXEMPTIONS
The following are exemptions from the idling prohibitions:
4.1 Emergency vehicles and emergency boats while engaged in operational activities, including
training activities, except where idling is substantially for the convenience of the operator of
the vehicle or boat.
4.2 Vehicles and boats assisting in an emergency activity.
4.3 Vehicles or boats required to remain motionless which is warranted because of an
emergency situation or other situations such as traffic, weather conditions or mechanical
difficulties over which the driver has no control is exempt.
4.4 Vehicles or boats where idling is required to repair or prepare the vehicle or boat for service.
4.5 Mobile workshops while they are in the course of being used for their basic function.
4.6 Armored vehicles where a person remains inside the vehicle while loading or unloading.
4.7 Vehicles or boats engaged in a parade or race or any other event authorized by City
Council.
4.8 Transit vehicles and Tour boats will be permitted to idle for five (5) minutes in a sixty (60)
minute period while passengers are embarking or disembarking en route or in a terminal.
4.9 Publicly operated boats to ferry passengers and vehicles on a set route and schedule.
4.10 Agricultural equipment while being operated on agricultural property.
4.11 Vehicles transporting a person who possesses a Doctors certificate stating for medical
reasons the environmental surroundings of a person must be maintained at a certain
temperature or humidity.
4.12 Hybrid or electric vehicles.
4.13 Taxi vehicles while actively engaged in their operation. This exemption ends on July 1,
2012.
5. OFFENCE AND PENALTY
5.1 Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this by-law is guilty of an offence and,
upon conviction is subject to a fine as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act and any
other applicable penalties.
5.2 if this by-law is contravened and a conviction entered, the court in which the conviction has
been entered and any court of competent jurisdiction thereafter may, in addition to any other
remedy and to any penalty that is imposed, make an order prohibiting the continuation or
repetition of the offence by the person convicted.
6. VALIDITY
6.1 If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision, or any part of a provision, of this
by-law to be invalid, or to be of no force and effect, it is the intention of City Council in
enacting this by-law that each and every provision of this by-law authorized by law be
applied and enforced in accordance with its terms to the extent possible according to law.
7. COMMENCEMENT
7.1 This by-law comes into force on July 1, 2008
Footnote: 1 - For the sake of consistency, Canadian municipal by-laws are categorized as ordinances as they serve the same purpose as their American counterparts.
Category:Canada
Category:City Governments
Category:Gas-Powered Transportation
Category:Ontario
Category:Ordinances