(A) Reduce vehicle idling.
(1) Vehicle idling gets zero miles per gallon; unnecessary idling wastes fuel and pollutes. Running an engine at low speed (idling) also causes twice the wear and tear on internal parts compared to driving at regular speeds. The breakeven point for shutting off and restarting gasoline engines or leaving it to idle is 30 seconds, from the point of view of both emissions and fuel consumption.
(2) Over the past several years, parts of the Greater Charlotte Area including Gaston County and the City of Lowell have been made aware of the region’s air quality and have taken steps in lessening the impact of pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. However, the region is still in an ozone non-attainment status.
(3) Idling of vehicles consumes approximately 17% of the fuel that a vehicle has on board.
(4) Effective immediately, unless exempted in division (B) below, no city vehicle or piece of equipment is to be idled in a non-emergency situation. The operator of the vehicle/equipment is to turn-off the unit and the keys are to be removed from the ignition.
(B) Exemptions. The following situations will allow idling, as needed:
(1) Emergency vehicles at scenes where lights, PTOs and/or other accessories are needed to accomplish the mission;
(2) Police Department vehicles working traffic enforcement details;
(3) Public Works Department and Recreation Department vehicles at job sites requiring the use of emergency lights, PTOs and/or other accessories to accomplish their mission; and
(4) Inclement weather situations.
(C) Note.
(1) Operators of vehicle/equipment and supervisors will be judicious in the idling of units at emergency scenes and job sites. If not all the units at the scene/site need to be idling, those units must be turned-off and the keys removed from the ignition.
(2) Each vehicle/equipment operator will be responsible for the idling operation of their unit and will have the unit keys in their possession to ensure that crew members do not arbitrarily violate the policy without the operator’s knowledge.
(3) Supervisors in each department will be responsible for the adherence and enforcement of the idling policy. Violations of the policy will be documented as to the vehicle/equipment operator, vehicle identification, location, date and time, weather conditions, and circumstances of the violation.
(4) The vehicle/equipment operator will be informed of the violation by the supervisor at the time of the infraction.
(5) The department head of each department/or the City Manager will be responsible for the discipline of employees found to be in violation of the policy. Discipline will be per the city disciplinary procedures and in a progressive manner.
(Ord. passed 12-8-2008)