FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2008
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Senate Approves Legislation to Reduce Commercial Vehicle Idling

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania's air quality would improve under legislation passed by the Senate today that would significantly restrict the idling of commercial diesel vehicles, said Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York).

"The recent ranking by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of the Harrisburg area as the 14th most challenging place to live with asthma is another example that action needs to be taken immediately to reduce diesel emissions," Vance said. "The health of residents is being compromised along with that of commercial drivers. I urge the House to pass this legislation quickly."

Senate Bill 295, which was amended to include parts of Vance's Senate Bill 1095, would prohibit commercial vehicles from idling for more than five minutes in any hour. The legislation permits idling under certain conditions, including:

• traffic jams and traffic signals;
• powering of mechanical or electrical operations necessary for loading, unloading or mixing;
• maintenance, servicing, repairing or diagnostic purposes;
• operating defrosters, heaters or refrigeration required for health and safety, but not during a rest period; and
• heating or cooling of buses for the comfort of passengers.

The legislation also contains intermediate exemptions allowing idling in extreme temperatures.  The idling restrictions would not apply at trucking terminals or truck stops if the outside temperature is below 40 degrees or above 75 degrees and idle reduction technology is unavailable.  This exemption would expire on May 1, 2010, at which time it is expected that idle reduction technology will be more widely deployed.

Idling restrictions would not apply to model year 2007 or newer diesel-powered commercial vehicles with a California Air Resource Board label showing the engine meets the optional NOx idling emissions standards.

Finally, the bill creates uniform statewide standards for idling restrictions thus making it easier to follow and enforce. Existing limitations in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties would continue, but could not be expanded.

Violation of the law would result in a $50 fine for the first offense and up to a $150 fine for each subsequent offense.

Vance's district includes all of Cumberland County and Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington and Washington townships and Dillsburg, Franklintown and Wellsville boroughs in York County.

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