In The News

Florida to limit idling as of Dec. 15

By Jill Dunn - eTrucker
Posted Jul 8th 2008 3:44AM

Florida will limit idling to five minutes beginning Dec. 15 but will allow exemptions, including unlimited idling by truckers using sleeper berths until 2013.

The Florida Environmental Regulation Commission passed the proposed regulation June 19, affecting diesel vehicles weighing 8,500 pounds or more. The rule originally was to be effective sooner, but the Florida Trucking Association requested more time.

Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican, signed executive orders in 2007 to reduce the state’s greenhouse gases; those orders included the establishment of a diesel idling standard.

The sleeper berth exemption expires at midnight Sept. 30, 2013. Exemptions will continue for circumstances that include being stuck in traffic or doing work for which the vehicle was designed, such a operating a pump or mixer.

Police will not issue tickets for violations. Instead, a DEP representative will be called to see whether a violation actually is occurring. Initially, the DEP will issue a warning, but companies that are repeat violators may be required to do anti-idling training.

More information is available on the DEP website at www.dep.state.fl.us/air/rules/ghg/heavy_duty.htm.

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