6/17/10-A bill has died that sought to limit trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds to idling for no more than five minutes per hour.
Vermont already limits how long buses can be left idling outside of schools.
H97 called for violators to face $10 fines. Repeat offenses within one year could have resulted in $50 fines while subsequent offenses within one year could have resulted in $100 fines.
The lone temperature exception wouldn’t have kicked in until the thermometer dips to 0 degrees.
Others exceptions would have included situations when idling is necessary to protect or preserve cargo, while stuck in traffic, for maintenance work, and for trucks equipped with sleeper berths “for the purpose of air conditioning or heating during a rest or sleep period.”
In addition, the Department of Motor Vehicles would have been in charge of setting additional “times or circumstances that reasonably require the idling of an engine.”

1/27/10-The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee voted unanimously Tuesday, Jan. 26, to advance a bill that would limit trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds to idling for no more than five minutes per hour. It now moves to the full House.
Vermont already limits how long buses can be left idling outside of schools.
H97 calls for violators to face $10 fines. Repeat offenses within one year could result in $50 fines while subsequent offenses within one year could result in $100 fines.
The lone temperature exception wouldn’t kick in until the thermometer dips to 0 degrees.
Others exceptions would include situations when idling is necessary to protect or preserve cargo, while stuck in traffic, for maintenance work, and for trucks equipped with sleeper berths “for the purpose of air conditioning or heating during a rest or sleep period.”
In addition, the Department of Motor Vehicles would be in charge of setting additional “times or circumstances that reasonably require the idling of an engine.”
For bill status, call 802-828-2231.