Utah winters are wonderful. We enjoy tons of powdery snow in the mountains, which is perfect for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. The landscape, covered in a blanket of snow, is even more beautiful. There’s just one thing we truly hate about this time of year: climbing into our freezing cars to go to work early in the morning. There are some weird laws in Utah, one of which could get us a ticket each and every winter.

Winter in Utah can be cold and unfriendly so many of us are tempted to start the car in our driveway and let it warm up before heading out onto the icy highway, but did you know that idling is against the law in several Utah cities and counties? Is idling your car illegal where you live?

There's nothing worse than opening your front door to head off to the office and seeing that it snowed overnight. It's time to grab the snow shovel and the ice scraper, and start up your car to get it all warm, right? Nope.
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Sure, you'll want to thoroughly scrape your car windows, and you definitely want to shovel that snow, but it's not a good idea to let your car idle in the driveway.
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During winter months, the inversion is a real problem. According to the Utah Department of Health, particulate matter in the air can become trapped in our lungs, causing respiratory problems and making life even tougher for those who already have asthma.
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Other problems caused by particulates include premature death from lung or heart disease, irregular heartbeat, decreased lung function, and nonfatal heart attacks.

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Vehicles cause 55 percent of the pollution in Utah, and the Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem area is ranked as having the eighth worst air quality in the entire country by the American Lung Association. Idling cars are part of the problem.
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Over the last decade or so, Utah cities have gotten more diligent about preventing car idling. In fact, 12 cities in Utah, 1 county, and 1 national park have declared Idle-Free resolutions or ordinances: Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Alta, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Holladay, Logan, Murray, Park City, Sandy, South Jordan, Springdale, and Zion National Park.
Some people believe that it's necessary to "warm up" their cars before driving, but that's not true with modern vehicles, which are ready to drive in the cold just 30 seconds after turning the ignition.
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In Salt Lake City, idling for more than two minutes can lead to fines of more than $200. However, motorists receive a warning the first time they're caught, a fine of $160 the second time, and a fine of $210 the third time. Fines are greatly reduced when they're paid promptly. The goal for cities isn't to make a bunch of money handing out idling tickets - it's to reduce pollution.
Driving on icy roads isn't fun, but it's even worse when we're socked in with an inversion. Learn more about ways you can do your part on the Utah Division of Air Quality's website.
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Are you aware of the idle-free campaign here in Utah? What do you think, is this one of those weird laws in Utah or is this something we should all be doing? Learn more about it on the Utah Clean Cities website.

If you’re looking for some ways to get out of the inversion, check out this article with 13 spots to visit for clean air.

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More to Explore

More Unusual laws in Utah

Chris Muras | November 26, 2022

Is it illegal to idle your car?

While there is no national law banning idling a vehicle, anti-idling laws are becoming more common throughout the United States to help prevent air pollution. More than two dozen states and many more cities and local counties have made it illegal to idle your car. Consequences range from a written warning to actual fines.

What are some weird laws in Utah?

There are certainly some weird laws in Utah, either currently on the books or that have been in the past. Here are only a few of the weird laws in Utah:

  • You must bury your pet promptly
  • No Sheep Herding Down the Streets of Salt Lake City
  • No throwing missiles at buses
  • Women cannot swear
  • No detonating nuclear weapons
  • No snowballs
  • You must drive on the road
  • Bait your hook properly
  • No gunpowder to remedy headaches
  • Throwing rocks at somewhere else
  • Don’t mess with the milkman
  • No convenience stores after dark without an ID
  • No riding bikes without hands

Take a look at these and a few other weird Utah laws here.

Is it legal to drink milk in Utah?

Quite the contrary, it is actually illegal to NOT drink milk in Utah. If you are lactose intolerant make sure you don't get caught not drinking milk or else you could be sent to the clink. As a side note, make sure you are not carrying your violin in a paper bag or you could get hit with a double whammy. Read these unusual laws in Utah to make sure you don't get in trouble.

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