Kent City Council Passes Idling Car Ordinance in Climate Action Efforts
Kent residents may need to start turning their vehicles off whenever they are not in the car. Kent’s city council voted on an update to an ordinance making it illegal to leave your car unoccupied and idling, to reduce emissions.
Ward 6 council member Tracy Wallach proposed the change, which does not apply to vehicles on residential property, emergency vehicles, public service and safety vehicles.
“Leaving a car running for more than 7 seconds would make an impact… .” Wallach said. “Little bits help.”
The previous ordinance specified not leaving a car idling with the keys in the ignition, specifically to help prevent vehicle thefts according to Kent’s police chief, Nicholas Shearer. The update changes the wording from “unattended” to “unoccupied” and removes the blurb about the key in the ignition, since many modern cars do not require physical keys. The update changes the focus from vehicular theft to climate action.
Kent residents will still be able to finish their morning coffee with their car parked in their driveway warming up in the winter if they choose to. But when running into the gas station or other non-residential spaces they must turn their car off when no one is inside the vehicle.
Ward 5 council member Heidi Shaffer Bish said that the ordinance was educational, and that it helped the city align with its climate action plan, which was introduced earlier this year.
Not all council members were in support of the updated ordinance. Council member Garret M. Ferrara was outspoken in the meeting about his feelings regarding the change, calling it a gross overreach.
“This is what we will do as a city…” said Ferrara regarding the ordinance. “You can’t legislate personal freedom.”
The ordinance passed with a vote of 5 to 3 in this committee meeting and will need to go further to be approved by the full council at the next meeting to become law.
“We are stacking victories and moving in the right direction,” said council member Robin G. Turner after the vote took place.
