There's A Law In Connecticut That Restricts You From Heating Up Your Car In Winter
By Lisa Sammons|Published December 06, 2022
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
Winter in Connecticut can get cold, especially in the morning. When you wake up and have to head to work and your car is coated in ice, it can be really tempting to warm up your car. Getting into an already toasty vehicle feels great and is a perfect way to start your morning commute. However, remember to do this responsibly! Did you know it’s actually illegal to warm up your unattended car in the driveway in Connecticut?
Life in Connecticut is great, but it can sometimes be a bit of a drag. We've got to admit, on mornings when you go outside and the car is coated in snow and ice, living in the unfrozen South sounds pretty appealing.
Warming up your car is not only comforting (after all, who wants to get in a freezing cold seat?), it's also safer for you and other drivers, and can be better for your vehicle if you're in an older car.
There's a popular belief that it also helps maintain the health of your vehicle's engine and lessens the likelihood of the car stalling due to the cold.
Not only is leaving an unlocked running car out an invitation for property theft, it's also incredibly bad for the environment. According to the anti-idling law in Connecticut, it's illegal to idle your car for more than three minutes, even if you're just warming it up in your driveway.
Modern cars don't need as much time to warm up as cars once did, so your best bet is just to crank up the car and warm it up by driving it. You might be uncomfortable until the heat gets cranking, but it's better than risking a fine!
