Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
Also, take that extra 90 seconds to scrape the entire windshield, not just the 6"x6" square directly in front of the steering wheel. AND WIPE OFF THE ROOFS OF YOUR DAMN CARS, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.
All damn winter long avoiding chunks of flying ice. #Imeanreally â“’Seth and Amy.
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
This is one of my pet peeves! That and the tops of the SUVs. AND, it's always tiny little women who whine, "I can't reeeach the top of my SUV". THEN DON'T DRIVE IT. I am a tiny (ish, at least in height) woman and I climb all over getting the snow and ice off the top of my 4Runner. You can do it! Stop complaining and think of other people.
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
This is one of my pet peeves! That and the tops of the SUVs. AND, it's always tiny little women who whine, "I can't reeeach the top of my SUV". THEN DON'T DRIVE IT. I am a tiny (ish, at least in height) woman and I climb all over getting the snow and ice off the top of my 4Runner. You can do it! Stop complaining and think of other people.
I feel like it's always guys in tiny hondas. The fuck? You seriously couldn't take 30 more seconds to push the brush over the top of your car? And you couldn't fully clear the back windshield so that you can actually see when you're about to merge into me? Fucking assholes.
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
This is one of my pet peeves! That and the tops of the SUVs. AND, it's always tiny little women who whine, "I can't reeeach the top of my SUV". THEN DON'T DRIVE IT. I am a tiny (ish, at least in height) woman and I climb all over getting the snow and ice off the top of my 4Runner. You can do it! Stop complaining and think of other people.
I struggle reaching, but find a way since I won't put other people in danger. I laugh when people suggest the telescoping brushes since I can't even reach the middle of the windshield with those. I either climb around on the doorframes of the open doors or bring a step ladder outside.
Side note that I wish there were 3-row vehicles that were lower to the ground for this very reason (we live in a land without school buses, so carpooling with neighbors rules the day, so I need to fit more than my 3 kids in on a daily basis). But that doesn't excuse putting others at risk.
I will say that I often have to sit in my running car for 5+ minutes because when I turn it on the windshield fogs up and it takes a long time for that to thaw so I can see. Anyone know a trick to fix that that doesn't involve sitting in an idling car waiting or remote starting (the only two solutions I've found)?
This is one of my pet peeves! That and the tops of the SUVs. AND, it's always tiny little women who whine, "I can't reeeach the top of my SUV". THEN DON'T DRIVE IT. I am a tiny (ish, at least in height) woman and I climb all over getting the snow and ice off the top of my 4Runner. You can do it! Stop complaining and think of other people.
I struggle reaching, but find a way since I won't put other people in danger. I laugh when people suggest the telescoping brushes since I can't even reach the middle of the windshield with those. I either climb around on the doorframes of the open doors or bring a step ladder outside.
Illegal here, too - Kansas. Last week there was a warning not to leave your car running b/c they would be towing. Actually, 2017 Mercedes models are the first model year for Mercedes to have remote start. It's illegal in Germany whether your doors are locked or not so it took Mercedes several years to figure out the work around (which is an app). Most remote starts (I believe) have a timer (at least, ours do) so your car can't run indefinitely - I think 10 minutes is the max. I mean, I've been in drive thru lines for longer than that!
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
What is the environmental difference between me starting my car and running back inside for 5 minutes or me starting my car and sitting in it for 5 minutes while it warms up?
Oh man. I would NOT be happy about that. Like you said, everyone does that in the winter - especially when there is snow, ice, etc on the car.
That makes me wonder why you can have remote start cars if you can also be ticketed??
This was Dh's question too but I reminded him that you can also get your driver windows tinted but that's illegal too. The windows can be tinted from top to bottom with the exception of the driver and front seat passenger. Those must have a four inch area that must be left alone but they will tint then whoever you want, even if you can still get a ticket.
This law is only in certain parts of MI, it's nota state wide law.
Carsdon't need to be left idling to warm up anymore. The only benefit it to people being in a warm car, not to the actual car itself.
Unless it's so cold that the windows need time to warm up so that you can see through them. I have definitely had times where I had to run my car for 5-10 minutes before the windows were driveable. I just sit in the car and shiver because the trip back to my apartment isn't worth it, but once I have a baby, I could see the appeal of leaving the baby in the warm apartment while the windows defrost. But yeah, it's illegal to leave the key in the ignition here, too.
If only someone could invent a device to scrape ice off car windows....
Unless it's so cold that the windows need time to warm up so that you can see through them. I have definitely had times where I had to run my car for 5-10 minutes before the windows were driveable. I just sit in the car and shiver because the trip back to my apartment isn't worth it, but once I have a baby, I could see the appeal of leaving the baby in the warm apartment while the windows defrost. But yeah, it's illegal to leave the key in the ignition here, too.
If only someone could invent a device to scrape ice off car windows....
Oh geez. I never thought of that!
I'm talking about when the windows re-frost/fog after you scrape them.
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
What is the environmental difference between me starting my car and running back inside for 5 minutes or me starting my car and sitting in it for 5 minutes while it warms up?
In that situation, where you truly sit in your car for 5 minutes, there's not a difference. Do you honestly sit in your car for 5 minutes to let it warm up before you start driving? Because that's really excessive and unnecessary. Not to mention, your car will warm up much faster if you're driving and running the engine, as opposed to letting it idle.
The issue with the law is that most people don't let their cars run for a couple minutes. They go out and start, go inside, get distracted, and then the car has been idling for 6, 8, 10 minutes. It's absolutely unnecessary for a car's engine to idle that much and it's not good for the environment. People do it for their own comfort, not because it makes their car run better.
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
What is the environmental difference between me starting my car and running back inside for 5 minutes or me starting my car and sitting in it for 5 minutes while it warms up?
You're not supposed to idle at all. Not necessary.
penguingrrl, how tall are you? I have a brush from CostCo that allows me to reach the middle of the windshield and top of my SUV without any gymnastics. I'm 5'.
What is the environmental difference between me starting my car and running back inside for 5 minutes or me starting my car and sitting in it for 5 minutes while it warms up?
In that situation, where you truly sit in your car for 5 minutes, there's not a difference. Do you honestly sit in your car for 5 minutes to let it warm up before you start driving? Because that's really excessive and unnecessary. Not to mention, your car will warm up much faster if you're driving and running the engine, as opposed to letting it idle.
The issue with the law is that most people don't let their cars run for a couple minutes. They go out and start, go inside, get distracted, and then the car has been idling for 6, 8, 10 minutes. It's absolutely unnecessary for a car's engine to idle that much and it's not good for the environment. People do it for their own comfort, not because it makes their car run better.
sure, sometimes. a lot of times i'll start it to warm it up and then scrape the ice/snow off. or sometimes i'll sit there and finish my make up or a phone call/text while it warms up/de-fogs/whatever.
In that situation, where you truly sit in your car for 5 minutes, there's not a difference. Do you honestly sit in your car for 5 minutes to let it warm up before you start driving? Because that's really excessive and unnecessary. Not to mention, your car will warm up much faster if you're driving and running the engine, as opposed to letting it idle.
The issue with the law is that most people don't let their cars run for a couple minutes. They go out and start, go inside, get distracted, and then the car has been idling for 6, 8, 10 minutes. It's absolutely unnecessary for a car's engine to idle that much and it's not good for the environment. People do it for their own comfort, not because it makes their car run better.
sure, sometimes. a lot of times i'll start it to warm it up and then scrape the ice/snow off. or sometimes i'll sit there and finish my make up or a phone call/text while it warms up/de-fogs/whatever.
Ok, then you're adding unnecessary pollution to the environment. I mean, if that's what you do, so be it. But I'm not sure why you think it's necessary and it's certainly not productive in helping to counter your environmental impact.
As I said, this is for your own comfort, not because your car needs it. Your car would be better off being driven to warm up than idling in your driveway.
I knew this was a law, but I think it's so stupid.
I had no idea this was a law in Missouri! In Springfield, it only applies to public areas, not your own driveway (I had to look it up).
ETA: I can't remember if you are on the MO or KS side.
RexManningDay , it's illegal in Kansas everywhere I believe, not just personal property. Remote start is fine because you can't put the car into gear without the keys.
It's a huge insurance risk to leave your car running unattended too.
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
The law mentions nothing about the environment, it's about deterring car theft.
sure, sometimes. a lot of times i'll start it to warm it up and then scrape the ice/snow off. or sometimes i'll sit there and finish my make up or a phone call/text while it warms up/de-fogs/whatever.
Ok, then you're adding unnecessary pollution to the environment. I mean, if that's what you do, so be it. But I'm not sure why you think it's necessary and it's certainly not productive in helping to counter your environmental impact.
As I said, this is for your own comfort, not because your car needs it. Your car would be better off being driven to warm up than idling in your driveway.
sure, but the law is that you have to be in the car if it's idling. not that you can't idle at all. i guess my point was more that if the law was intended to cut down on the environmental impact of idling, it's doing it wrong.
What is the environmental difference between me starting my car and running back inside for 5 minutes or me starting my car and sitting in it for 5 minutes while it warms up?
You're not supposed to idle at all. Not necessary.
People usually don't warm up their cars to optimize vehicle performance. They do it to warm the interior of the car because the weather is brutally cold.
Omg people. It's not stupid! It's an environmental protection law. We're going to need people to follow laws like this more than ever now. There isn't anybody helping out besides us. Do your part and scrape the damn ice off your windshield. Sheesh.
The law mentions nothing about the environment, it's about deterring car theft.
In this particular case, yes. But in other cases, the law is there for environmental reasons.
I think you updated in your OP that you don't understand the difference between letting the car idle for 10 minutes vs. driving it? If you let your car idle for 10 minutes, then drive from A to B, your car has been running for 10 minutes longer than necessary. If you just drove from A to B, you would have saved 10 minutes of your car being on.
Regardless of why the law was written or the rationale behind it, idling your car is unnecessary and adds pollution that can easily be avoided. It's really as simple as that.
And, for the record, I don't believe he was in the store for 7 minutes. The cop likely ran a check on the car prior to writing a ticket. That process takes time. He was likely inside for at least 10 minutes. Every bit of time counts when you have millions and millions of people doing this.
penguingrrl, how tall are you? I have a brush from CostCo that allows me to reach the middle of the windshield and top of my SUV without any gymnastics. I'm 5'.
5' even, but with t-rex hyper short arms. My spider-like climbing does the trick if I'm out somewhere and can't bring out a step ladder lol!
People usually don't warm up their cars to optimize vehicle performance. They do it to warm the interior of the car because the weather is brutally cold.
Right? I seriously doubt most people who do this are doing it for performance optimization. This argument is making me laugh. When I do it, it's because I don't want to get into a freezing cold car. I do have remote start, so no chance of car being stolen.
Also, I'm not arguing that it's not bad for the environment.
Ok, then you're adding unnecessary pollution to the environment. I mean, if that's what you do, so be it. But I'm not sure why you think it's necessary and it's certainly not productive in helping to counter your environmental impact.
As I said, this is for your own comfort, not because your car needs it. Your car would be better off being driven to warm up than idling in your driveway.
sure, but the law is that you have to be in the car if it's idling. not that you can't idle at all. i guess my point was more that if the law was intended to cut down on the environmental impact of idling, it's doing it wrong.
In this case, it's not about environmental impact. In many other cases, it is. You specifically asked what the difference was between you being inside vs. sitting in your car and how there is a difference to the environment in that situation. There's not. But it's completely unnecessary to idle your car at all, which was my primary point.
I don't really care why or how the law was written in any given county around the country. Idling your car harms the environment and isn't necessary.
The law mentions nothing about the environment, it's about deterring car theft.
In this particular case, yes. But in other cases, the law is there for environmental reasons.
I think you updated in your OP that you don't understand the difference between letting the car idle for 10 minutes vs. driving it? If you let your car idle for 10 minutes, then drive from A to B, your car has been running for 10 minutes longer than necessary. If you just drove from A to B, you would have saved 10 minutes of your car being on.
Regardless of why the law was written or the rationale behind it, idling your car is unnecessary and adds pollution that can easily be avoided. It's really as simple as that.
And, for the record, I don't believe he was in the store for 7 minutes. The cop likely ran a check on the car prior to writing a ticket. That process takes time. He was likely inside for at least 10 minutes. Every bit of time counts when you have millions and millions of people doing this.
He wasn't at a store. His car was parked in the driveway at his girlfriend's house. Just for clarification.