Leaving your engine running could cost you in Coquitlam.
City council took the first steps Tuesday evening in approving an anti-idling bylaw that will see motorists fined $150 for leaving their cars running longer than three minutes. Even drivers waiting at rail crossings or picking up children from school could get a ticket as part of the municipality's efforts to reduce air pollution.
"Vehicle emissions contribute to the accumulation of greenhouse gas and air contaminants that affect the environment," said a staff report, adding the regulations would "provide a tool for reducing GHG emissions in the city."
Coun. Teri Towner first brought up the issue in June when she asked city staff to look into implementing an anti-idling bylaw similar to those passed in Port Moody, Surrey, New Westminster and most of the North Shore communities. Towner said she noticed people leaving their vehicles running while going into the grocery store.
"People are leaving their cars running while they do errands," she said earlier this summer.
On Burke Mountain, where many people live in non-smoking basement suites, she added, more people are sitting in their cars when they need to have a cigarette "and they are idling their car the whole time."
Because the new regulations would impact an area of shared responsibility between the municipal and provincial government, approval must be granted by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy before the bylaw can be enacted.
After the first three readings were passed Tuesday, staff said they will now go to the province for final consideration before bringing the bylaw back to council.
If the new rules are adopted, the city said it will launch a public education campaign informing residents of the regulations and why they have been put in place. As well, no-idling signage would be installed at popular drop-off and pickup zones around schools and SkyTrain stations.
