The Worst NY Law You May Be Breaking This Winter

Chances are you warm your car up in the morning during the winter months. If you do, you are breaking the law!

I know, it sounds crazy. Something as simple as warming your car up so you don't have to sit in an ice box is technically illegal.

According the News 10:

'...Section 1210 of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law makes it illegal for a driver to leave a vehicle without stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key from the car.'

So if you interpret this law literally, you are breaking the law when you warm up your car in the morning. But, are you going to get a ticket for it?  That seems unlikely. News 10 says the law is intended to prevent vehicle thefts when keys are left in a running vehicle. In that context, the law does not seem ridiculous. So I would guess the only time this would be enforced is if you leave your car running in a very public place, not in your driveway.

Plus, imagine if they actually tried to enforce this everywhere if warming up cars was at the heart of the issue? It would be nearly impossible! So go ahead and warm up your car again tomorrow morning. But if you see an officer lurking, don't say I didn't warn you! Ha!