Most People Don't Know It's Actually Illegal To Warm Up Your Car In Denver

Can I let you in on a little not-so secret? It’s cold here in Denver. Late last week, we dealt with temperatures in both the single digits and negatives, leading most of us to dread the very thought of stepping foot outside. If you are like me, you have probably thought a time or two about starting the car minutes before having to leave, which you may want to rethink after seeing this video:

That’s right folks; leaving your car running in order to make it warm up is called “puffing” and — if you get caught doing it — can result in a hefty fine. Why would you get ticketed for merely making your morning commute a little more pleasant? Well…

Flickr/Thomas Chung

The story of our lives last Thursday morning.

...by starting your car and leaving it unattended, you are more vulnerable to car theft, which would make your day 100x worse than just driving to work in a cold car. In addition to potentially having your car stolen, a "puffing" car also releases harmful emissions into the atmosphere, which is something to consider the next time you plan to let your car sit idle.

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Flickr/Kristin Kokkersvold

If you absolutely cannot go without starting your car before leaving, listen up, as there is now an exception to the "puffing" rule: get a car with a built-in remote start so you can lock it while it runs!

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Flickr/Corey Balazowich

Last April, Governor John Hickenlooper signed a law to end the full state ban, exempting cars with a remote start.

What do you think of this law? Is it silly or smart? Let us know your thoughts!