Vehicle Idling By-law No. 2007-294

St. Catharines, Ontario

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 38328dcffce1 · verified 2026-08-23 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

- ,J CITY OF ST. CATHARINES BY-LAW NO. )C07- :2 f If A By-Law to regulate the idling of vehicles. WHEREAS Section 11 of the Municipal Act, S. 0 . 2001, c.25, as amended, authorizes a municipality to pass by-laws for purposes related to the health safety and well-being of persons; AND WHEREAS vehicles are sources of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxides and volatile organic compounds, in the City of St. Catharine's outdoor air; AND WHEREAS levels of air pollutants in the City of St. Catharines are associated with adverse health effects including deleterious effects on respiratory health; AND WHEREAS Council desires to assist in the reduction of adverse health effects by reducing unnecessary emissions of air pollutants caused by idling vehicles; NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ST. CATHARINES ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: Definitions 1. In this By-law: "City" means the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines. "Idle" means the operation of the engine of a vehicle while the vehicle is not in motion, and "idling" has a corresponding meaning; "Layover- means a stopping point along a transit route for a maximum of frfteen minutes to allow transit vehicles to adjust service schedules; "Mobile workshops" means either a vehicle containing equipment that must be operated inside or in association with the vehicle or a vehicle serving as a facility for taking measurements or making observations operated on behalf of a municipality, public utility or police, fire or ambulance service; "Vehicle" means any motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine or farm tractor, as defined in the Highway Traffic Act, and any vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of non-muscular power but does not include vehicles that operate exclusively upon rails. General Prohibition 2. No person shall cause or permit a vehicle to idle for more than three (3) consecutive minutes. Exceptions 3. Section 2 does not apply to: (a) police, fire or ambulance vehicles while engaged in operational activities; (b) vehicles assisting in an emergency activity; (c) vehicles that are stationary because of an emergency, traffic or weather; conditions, or mechanical difficulties over which the driver has no control; (d) vehicles where the idling is required as a part of a repair process or to prepare a vehicle for servicing; (e) transit and passenger vehicles which passengers are embarking or disembarking en route or at terminals; (f) transit vehicles while at a layover with passengers on board; (g) vehicles when the ambient outdoor temperature is more than twenty-seven degrees Celsius (2TC), including the humidex calculation, or less than five degrees Celsius (S.C), including the windchill factor, as determined by Environment Canada; (h) vehicles engaged in a parade approved by the City; (i) mobile workshops while they are in the course of being used for their intended function; (j) armoured vehicles where a person remains inside the vehicle while guarding the contents of the vehicle; (k) vehicles that are required to idle in order to keep in operation a heating or refrigeration system necessary for the preservation of the cargo contained therein; (I) vehicles that have been manufactured to reduce the emission of air pollutants and that do not emit air pollutants when idling; 4. Any person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence and upon conviction is liable to any penalty provided for in the Provincial Offences Act. 5. This by-law comes into force the date that it is passed. Read a first time this cl~ day of ~c-fbber 2007. Read a second time this ~1\tl day of C;c.,-to b-e - 2007. Read a third time and passed this cl CLERK day of ~c.,toher 2007.