Keep An Eye on Idling Cars

Tuesday, 5 January 2016 07:21

The OPP are warning motorists to keep an eye on idling cars this winter - it only takes a moment for a thief to capitalize on the opportunity

Another day, another morning scraping off the windshield in Oxford County.

OPP Constable and Media Relations Officer Ed Sanchuk says they are reminding motorists to leave themselves a few extra minutes to make sure they can properly clear the windshield and warm up the car. "Scrape off the windshield, that is a big one. As well we are seeing vehicles that have some type of frost on the windshield and they are not scraping them so they are not only putting their lives in jeopardy they are putting other lives at risk as well. Obviously if you have a garage you can wait inside your garage, but more importantly you don't ever want to leave your vehicle unattended, it only takes a few seconds to get in that vehicle and drive away. We always remind people to lock it or lose it."

This time of year does provide an opportunity for car thieves to make a quick getaway according to Sanchuk. "You just don't know who is actually watching you once you start your car and head back in your home. We are giving some advice to everyone especially with the cold weather that is approaching us when you do go to your vehicle make sure that your vehicle is locked. If you're going to start your vehicle with remote start that is great. When you are starting your vehicle with a key you want to make sure your vehicle is locked and you are taking that key fob with you at all times."

There are different bylaws surrounding idling times. In Woodstock they recently looked at reducing the amount of time you can idle your car, but exceptions are made when the temperature is below 5 degrees Celsius.

"Different jurisdictions will have different bylaws; if you are sitting inside your vehicle and you are warming your vehicle up in order to clear your windshield there are no issues with that," Sanchuk says. "If you go into a store and leave your vehicle running for 45 minutes there may be some issues under the bylaws. I think what people need to realize is that anytime you have a vehicle that is running you want to make sure that there is no youngster in that vehicle that may possibly put that vehicle in gear if you do leave that vehicle for any given reason."

To take a look at the Woodstock bylaw on idling CLICK HERE