NYC Administrative Code section 24-163 forbids any motor vehicle from idling its engine for more than three minutes while parked, standing, or stopped, dropping to one minute when the vehicle is adjacent to any public or private school.
Under Administrative Code section 24-163 the Department of Environmental Protection enforces a citywide three-minute idling cap that applies to passenger cars, trucks, and buses. The limit drops to one minute within 100 feet of any K-12 school. Exemptions cover legally authorized emergency activity, mechanical work, and temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit when used for passenger comfort. Local Law 5 of 2018 created a citizen-reporter program under section 24-163.4 that pays whistleblowers 25 percent of any fine collected from heavy-duty truck idling complaints supported by video. Hybrid school buses must shut off rather than idle while loading.
First-time idling fines start at $350 and rise to $2,000 for repeat offenders within 12 months under Admin Code section 24-178. Heavy-duty trucks face higher penalties and citizen-reporter complaints can trigger summonses without an inspector present.
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