Is it illegal to let your car idle in New York?

It’s the little things in life that bring us joy, such as an automatic car starter that warms up your vehicle during an Upstate New York winter.
However, you could be breaking the law by letting your car sit idle for too long.
New York state prohibits idling for more than five minutes for heavy duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 8,500 lbs. (Class 2b), with limited exceptions.
6 NYCRR Subpart 217-3 idling regulation is enforced by NYS DEC Conservation Officers and fines range from $500 to $18,000 in the case of a first violation.
According to the DEC, reducing idle time is good for the environment because it keeps the air cleaner for people, animals, and ecosystems; reduces noise, and saves money for consumers.
While Class 2b vehicles and higher are subject to fines, DEC’s “Shut it off, NY!” campaign offers suggestions for any passenger vehicle.
They recommend shutting off your car:
Examples of Class 2b vehicles subject to anti-idling fines include the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500, Ford F-250, Nissan Titan XD, and Ram 2500.
The Tesla Cybertruck also falls in the Class 2b category, but due to its electric-only engine, is exempt from this law.
The law has few exceptions, including idling while stuck in traffic, performing maintenance, powering auxiliary functions, or operating diesel trucks in temperatures below 25°F (-3.9°C) for more than two hours. Additionally, fire, police, public utility, and other emergency vehicles are exempt from this law.
In New York City, rules are even more strict. Idling outside of traffic is prohibited to three minutes for all vehicles, unless being serviced or being repaired.
This time limit is reduced to just one minute when idling outside a school, so no more leaving the car running for long periods of time while waiting to pick up your student.
NYC has also started a Citizens Air Complaint Program which allows individuals who witness illegal truck idling to file a complaint online with DEP.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams revealed the biggest idle offenders in 2023. Those who received the most summons include LabQ Clinical Diagnostics LLC, Amazon, Con Ed and Verizon.