A Law In West Virginia Prohibits You From Idling Your Car Even In Winter

Winter can get pretty brutal here in West Virginia. However, nothing’s quite as bad as getting up early in the morning to frigid temperatures and a car covered in ice and snow. Most of us, especially if we don’t have a garage, probably slip into the driver’s seat, turn on the car, lock the doors, and head back in the house, waiting for the car to warm up. Did you know there’s a law in West Virginia that restricts you from heating up your car during the winter? There is, and here’s what it says.

If you’ve ever left your car unattended – on a snowy winter day or any other day – you have broken West Virginia law. That’s right. West Virginia law prohibits drivers from leaving their cars idling while unattended.

Flickr/Governor Earl Ray Tomblin

The law states, in fact, “No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, [and] removing the key.”

Flickr/William F. Yurasko

That begs the question: What happens if you don’t have to leave your key in your car, if you have a modern remote car starter?

Flickr/This Year’s Love

In 2018, Senators Craig Blair and Greg Boso introduced Senate Bill 437 to affirm that the anti-idling law doesn’t pertain to those vehicles with a modern remote starter. Click here to read the full Senate Bill. (It’s only about a page long.)

Flickr/Thomas Chung

If a law enforcement officer sees that your vehicle has been left unattended, during the winter or at any other time, you’ll receive a fine of $100. A second offense within the same year requires a fine of no more than $200 and if you…

Flickr/Ian Stedman

Get caught a third time, you’ll face a maximum fine of $500.

Flickr/401(K) 2012

Anti-idling laws have been enacted, in part, because leaving a car unattended increases the chance of having your vehicle stolen.

Flickr/Scott Davidson

To ensure you can warm up your car in the winter or cool it down in the summer, your best bet is to purchase a remote car starter, if you don’t already have one.

Flickr/Caitlin Regan

Have you heard of this law in West Virginia that forbids drivers from warming their cars up in the winter? Do you still warm your car up? Join the conversation in the comments! Have you ever whistled underwater – or tried to? Oops – you’ve broken the law. Here are eight strange laws in West Virginia.