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Report idling in your area. Use our mapping tools and call DNREC at 1-800-662-8802 to let their enforcement agents know about idling where you see it. Tell people you know about www.idlefreedelaware.org. Our comprehensive reporting guide here and the ability to map out and see where idling happens illegally can let DNREC know who to target for enforcement. You can make our air cleaner.
Negative effects of idling are numerous and harmful to public health. Over the short-term, diesel emissions can irritate a person’s eyes, throat, or nose, cause lightheadedness and nausea, and cause coughing and phlegm.[1] Living in and around diesel emissions and being exposed to them constantly can cause much worse effects. Inhaling diesel emissions over a long time can permanently damage a person’s lungs.[2] Diesel emissions have also been linked to various forms of cancer, including lung cancer.[3]
Diesel emissions include fumes, microscopic particles, soot, and other organic compounds.[4] These different particles and emissions can easily damage and irritate eyes, noses, and the very sensitive linings of lungs and throats. Small particles can permanently destroy parts of the lungs and trigger asthma-like symptoms, especially in younger and older people.
Unnecessary idling is one of the leading causes of diesel emissions. In an attempt to stop pointless and unnecessary pollution caused by idling, the Clean Air Council has created www.idlefreedelaware.org to allow citizens to report illegal idling throughout the state of Delaware.
Beyond health impacts, idling is economically harmful as well. Leaving a truck or bus to idle wastes fuel. Anywhere from .4 to .8 gallons of fuel are wasted an hour when a vehicle idles.[5] Idling also increases engine wear and tear, creating a need for unnecessary maintenance and vehicle replacement. An hour of idling can cause as much wear and tear on a vehicle as driving up to 120 miles on a highway.[6]
[1] U.S. EPA. Health Assessment Document for Diesel Engine Exhaust (Final 2002). Pg. 1-4 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Washington Office, Washington, DC, EPA/600/8-90/057F, 2002.
[2] Id at 1-5.
[3] Id at 1-5, 7-61.
[4] Id at 2-1, 2-2.
[5] Available at http://www.transportation.anl.gov/pdfs/TA/373.pdf.
[6] Available at http://www.cat.com/maintenance-and-support.
Several criteria must be met for an idling vehicle to be illegal:
(1) The vehicle must be idling for more than three minutes.
(2) Delaware’s anti-idling law applies only to heavy-duty, on-road vehicles over 8,500 pounds in weight.
(3) These vehicles may be trucks, buses, farm vehicles, or any other kind of vehicle except any emergency response vehicle, private or public, such as ambulances, fire-trucks or school buses as long as people are onboard.[1]
Delaware’s anti-idling laws are strong and apply to the entire state. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) enforces the state’s anti-idling laws. Under these laws, illegal idlers can be fined up to $500 dollars per offense. To report an illegal idling vehicle, you may call DNREC directly at 1-800-662-8802. Be sure to report on the Council’s application under the “Map” tab as well. By creating the reports on the Council’s map tool, DNREC and the public can quickly see where the idling and pollution hotspots are in different communities.
[1] The full text of Delaware’s anti-idling law can be found at: http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/april2005/final/8%20DE%20Reg%20...
For more questions and comments about www.idlefreedelaware.org, contact David Presley by email or by phone at 1-215-567-4004 x122.