New Bill Aims To Allow Unattended Vehicle Warmups In Michigan After Man Was Ticketed
LANSING (AP) — A Michigan lawmaker is proposing legislation after a Detroit-area man was ticketed for leaving a car running in his driveway as the vehicle warmed up.
The bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Holly Hughes of Montague would let residents leave an unattended vehicle idling in a private driveway without being issued a citation.
Hughes says warming a car without being inside it is common in the cold weather, and her bill wouldn't allow the practice on public roadways.
The measure introduced Wednesday was referred to a committee for consideration.
In January, Nick Taylor of Roseville said he went inside his home and left his car running for about five minutes. When he went back outside, he had received a $125 fine for an ordinance violation of leaving a car unattended.
He ranted about it on Facebook, blaming the "dip****" police for not just knocking on the door and telling him to turn off his car, and his post drew thousands of shares and angry comments, many of them on his side.
"I encourage our officers to write this ticket," said Roseville Police Chief James Berlin, citing car theft as public safety concern.
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