DRIVERS have been made aware of a little-known law that makes it illegal to leave running cars unattended.
With weather across the nation turning for the worse, a recent NBC Chicago report discussed the rules around starting up a car and leaving it to warm up while doing something else, such as salting the driveway or getting the kids ready for school.
According to the National Weather Service, freezing temperatures are expected to sweep across the US in the coming days and could affect around 300 million Americans.
It’s suggested that more than 75% of the country is expected to face arctic-like temperatures, as cold air blasts south from Canada.
Snow is set for the Northeast coast, while a potentially crippling winter storm is heading to the South.
Washington, D.C., is expected to see one to three inches of snow, with up to six inches expected in New York and Boston.
Illinois is no different, with dangerous cold taking over the state through midweek.
But can residents of the state leave their car idling to warm it up inside during this frightful weather?
Legally speaking, the short answer is no.
Like many states, Illinois has implemented laws against leaving vehicles unattended.
Indeed, the state’s vehicle code says: “No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.”
To that end, leaving a vehicle unattended in Chicago is considered a municipal code violation.
However, there is a loophole that car owners can exploit: remote start-up.
According to NBC Chicago, a vehicle turned on using a remote starter system is not classified as an “unattended motor vehicle,” says the law, although the Chicago Police Department has warned against doing so in past years.
Factory-installed remote start-up is available across most makes and models, while aftermarket remote-start kits are available for almost any vehicle with an automatic transmission built after the 2000 model year.
It’s not just drivers in Chicago bracing for the cold, as thousands of Americans are being asked to prepare for an arctic blast blowing in from Canada that could cause a number of issues across the country.
Indeed, car owners have been warned to remove six specific items from their vehicles during these freezing temperatures to prevent potential explosions or damage.
Just like in extremely hot conditions, certain items should not be left inside a car during sub-zero weather.
This includes aerosol cans, such as deodorant bottles, which can become unstable and potentially dangerous when exposed to extreme temperatures.
According to Capital One Auto Navigator, they could even explode.
Elsewhere, New Yorkers using the rideshare app Lyft to commute around the city have just days to go before they start feeling the squeeze of the new congestion charge.
Beginning on January 5, cars entering the busiest parts of the city during peak hours are subject to a $9 charge – although the fee varies from vehicle type.
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