Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 120 - Air Resources › Subchapter 05 - Air Pollution Control › Part 45 - Rhode Island Diesel Engine Anti-Idling Program (250-RICR-120-05-45) › Section 250-RICR-120-05-45.8 - Exemptions

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Vehicles, diesel engines and non-road
				  diesel engines are exempt from the requirement of this regulation in the
				  following circumstances:
1. Vehicles that
				  remain motionless due to traffic conditions or at the direction of a law
				  enforcement official.
2. Vehicles
				  idling when it is necessary to operate defrosting, heating, or cooling
				  equipment to ensure the health or safety of the driver or passengers. In the
				  case of providing heat, the exemption allows idling for up to 15 minutes per
				  hour when temperatures are between 0 degrees and 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Idling
				  for the purpose of providing heat will be allowed as needed when temperatures
				  are below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. A passenger bus may idle a maximum of 15
				  minutes per hour to maintain passenger comfort while non-driver passengers are
				  onboard whenever temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Vehicles necessarily idling when the
				  primary propulsion engine is needed to power work-related mechanical or
				  electrical operations other than propulsion (e.g., mixing or processing cargo
				  or straight truck refrigeration). This exemption does not apply when idling for
				  cabin comfort or to operate non-essential on-board equipment.
4. Non-road diesel engines may idle when the
				  engine idles for maintenance, servicing, repairing, or diagnostic purposes, if
				  idling is required for such activity. In addition, a non-road diesel engine may
				  idle as part of a state or federal inspection to verify that all equipment is
				  in good working order, if idling is required as part of the
				  inspection.
5. An occupied vehicle
				  with a sleeper berth compartment may idle for purposes of air conditioning or
				  heating during federally mandated rest or sleep period. This exemption shall
				  expire on July 1, 2010.
6. Vehicles
				  may idle when the primary propulsion engine idles for maintenance, servicing,
				  repairing, or diagnostic purposes, if idling is required for such activity. In
				  addition, a vehicle may idle as part of a state or federal inspection to verify
				  that all equipment is in good working order, provided idling is required as
				  part of the inspection.
7. Police,
				  fire, rescue, ambulance and other public safety vehicles, military vehicles,
				  armored vehicles, other emergency or law enforcement vehicle, or any vehicle
				  being used in an emergency capacity, may idle while in an emergency or training
				  mode and not for the convenience of the vehicle operator. Also, an armored
				  vehicle may idle when a person remains inside the vehicle to guard the
				  contents, or while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded.
8. Airfield maintenance vehicles while
				  actively being used to achieve their intended purpose on a state-owned or
				  operated airport.
9. Diesel powered
				  engines or vehicles that must continuously operate while stationary in order to
				  perform their intended function, in accordance with all applicable regulations
				  (e.g., an electricity generator which is actively being used to power equipment
				  on-site).
10. Operating a vehicle
				  mounted auxiliary power unit or generator set as a means to heat, air condition
				  or provide electrical power as an alternative to idling the vehicle's main
				  engine is not considered idling.