We are all guilty of this in winter…we go out to the driveway, start the vehicle, then go back inside while it warms up. Who would have thought that this is illegal in Oklahoma? Not me! While some other states have this rule due to emission restrictions, Oklahoma’s law states that it is illegal to leave your running vehicle unattended. Keep scrolling and we’ll tell you what the punishment is if you get caught.

Welcome to Oklahoma, where we still have obscure and crazy laws. Did you know it is illegal in the Sooner State to leave your running vehicle unattended?
oklahoma.gov
Yes, that even means in your own driveway. We can maybe understand if you're in a public space but in your own driveway...really?
flickr/janice waltzer
Many other states have this rule due to emission issues but that's not how Oklahoma's law reads.
flickr/brian muse

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According to state statute 47 OK State § 47–11–1101, it is a misdemeanor punishable by a levied fine. It's up to the responding officer if they want to issue a citation. The good news is, many police offers say they don't write tickets for this...however, there are a few out there that will.
flickr/paul sableman
If you're not a rule breaker, you may want to play it safe and stay with your vehicle if you leave it running. You can always spend time scraping your windows and freezing your hands.
flickr/eric parker
Experts say modern vehicles don't need time to warm up. 30 seconds is all they need in cold weather and they are good to go. You could always clean out your garage and not have this dilemma on cold mornings.
flickr/mark brummett

It is noteworthy to mention that vehicles get stolen every year out of people’s driveways that are left idling. So, you might think twice the next time you leave it to warm up without you. But does it really need to be illegal in Oklahoma? What do you think?

If you’re interested in reading about more weird laws in Oklahoma, check out our previous article “These 11 Crazy Laws In Oklahoma Will Leave You Scratching Your Head In Wonder.“

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