Idle Threats from Shrewsbury Council

At the behest of its environmental commission chairwoman, Shrewsbury Council passed a resolution Monday night calling for drivers, borough-wide, to cut their engines when parked.

Commission Chair Jill Gwydir said idling is a significant environmental issue that leads to greater greenhouse gas emission, pollution, and, for cost-conscious drivers out there, greater fuel consumption.

Enforcing no-idling codes that move beyond the state’s three-minute preexisting code would also help the borough win points from Sustainable Jersey and the Green Team for use in future eco-friendly certifications.

With the passing of the resolution, the borough, led by the environmental commission, will locate and map the areas in town with the highest incidents of idling with the purpose of setting up signs and letting people know that keeping their car’s engine on does more harm than good.

Some of the areas being targeted are for anti-idling education efforts are shopping centers, borough parks, and, of course, Shrewsbury’s school, where parents often sit with their cars running as they wait to pick up their children each day.

According to data presented by the environmental commission, every gallon of gasoline used produces about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is the largest contributor to greenhouse climate change. About one third of greenhouse gas emissions come from methods of transportation.

As part of the plan, Gwydir said the commission would add a educational component to the resolution, partnering with the school to teach kids about the dangers of emissions and to hand out pamphlets. Partnerships with businesses and other community groups are also being sought.

Those who would remain unaffected by the change, Mayor Donald Burden said, are emergency personnel, like police, fire fighters, and the rescue squad.

No penalties have been devised for violators of the no-idling law, though warnings are likely. It’s up to borough officials, Gwydir said, to decide if summonses should be issued to drivers who fail to obey no idling rules.