City of Kelowna introduces new vehicle idling bylaw

The City of Kelowna, B.C. is taking aim at reducing unnecessary idling.

On Thursday, the city announced a new bylaw that will come into effect on Monday.

That bylaw says residents or visitors are no longer permitted to let their vehicles idle for more than a minute while within city boundaries.

The bylaw can be viewed online.

According to the city, 30 other communities in B.C. have a similar bylaw.

However, the City of Kelowna said that its new bylaw does not apply to vehicles stuck in traffic, adding there are also other exceptions.

The exceptions are below:

• (A) police, fire, or ambulance motor vehicle, while engaged in operational activities, including training activities;
• (B) armoured motor vehicle, used to transport money or valuables, in which a person remains to guard the contents, during the loading or unloading of such money or valuables;
• (C) motor vehicle with power take-off and mobile work vehicles while they are in the course of being used for their basic function;
• (D) motor vehicle while engaged in a mechanical test or maintenance procedure;
• (E) motor vehicle during a race or parade with a valid permit issued pursuant to Outdoor Events Bylaw No. 8358;
• (F) motor vehicle forced to remain motionless because of highway traffic, an emergency, or mechanical difficulties over which the driver has no control;
• (G) motor vehicle that must remain idling to power a heating or refrigeration system or any ancillary equipment for the preservation of perishable cargo, but not when idling disturbs the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, or convenience of a neighborhood or of persons in the vicinity; and
• (H) transit vehicles while its passengers are in the course of embarking or disembarking

“Transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within Kelowna,” the city said.

“Vehicle emissions also directly contribute harmful emissions into the city’s air supply. Idling control is an action to reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality from the transportation sector.”

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“Poor air quality plays a vital role in our health and happiness — we’ve all experienced what poor air quality looks and feels like during wildfire season,” said Nancy Mora Castro, a regional air quality coordinator with the city.

“We need to consider ways to encourage behaviour change around unnecessary idling. Having a bylaw that supports this is one way to get drivers to think about their idling habits.”

The city says the bylaw will “embrace education-first principles,” but added that repeat offenders may incur fines up to $150 for each idling infraction.

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The city also said the bylaw will be a complaint-based system, “much like the majority of the city’s bylaws.”

It also said there will be a six-month grace and education period until January.