Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed into law a statewide idling bill that takes effect Jan. 1.
Commercial vehicles are limited to five minutes of idling an hour on property open to the public, with exceptions. Violators will face $180 fines.
Among exceptions are idling to operate defrosting, heating, or air conditioners. Another exception will be for cooling or heating during a rest or sleep period when the outside temperature is below 50 degrees or above 75 degrees. The exception won’t apply if the truck is equipped with an auxiliary power unit or other idle-reduction technology.
Still another exception will be made for idling up to 30 minutes while a truck is waiting to load or unload, or while loading or unloading.
Also, cities and counties are prohibited from setting up their own rules to regulate truck idling. Unaffected by the new law is the city of Ashland’s idling ordinance. The ordinance is grandfathered in.
