For immediate release
June 13, 2005

GTA Municipalities Get Tough on Drivers Idling Their Vehicles - June 13 – 17, 2005

Greater Toronto Area - Drivers waiting in their vehicles could be breaking the law.

“Enforcement officers in Toronto and Burlington are cracking down on drivers idling their vehicles, as part of Idle-Free Week in the GTA,” said Eva Ligeti, Executive Director of the Clean Air Partnership. “Sometimes the threat of a ticket is enough to motivate people to do the right thing, but this week they’re actually going to get tickets for idling their vehicles.”

Poor air quality from an increasing number of automobiles on the road is putting pressure on municipalities to keep the air from getting worse. Automobile ownership in the GTA is expected to increase by 50% to 19 million vehicles over the next 25 years.

To offset these pressures, GTA municipalities are getting tough on drivers who idle their vehicles. In the GTA 5 municipalities have already introduced by-laws, including Toronto (1998), Oakville (2002), Whitchurch-Stouffville (2003), Burlington (2004) and Vaughan (2004). Markham and Oshawa are expected to be next.

Most of the time, anti-idling by-laws are enforced after complaints from the public. People can complain about drivers who idle regularly at the same times and places, enabling enforcement officers to target these hotspots.

“Idle-Free Week in the GTA is about ticketing, but it’s also about public education,” said Ligeti. “We are helping drivers to realize that they hold the key to cleaner air. We can all help reduce air pollution with a simple turn of a key.”

The Clean Air Partnership is a charitable organization that works in partnership to promote and coordinate improvements to local air quality. Idle-Free Week in the GTA is a joint campaign with Natural Resources Canada and GTA municipalities and regions.

Contact:
Eva Ligeti
Clean Air Partnership

For more information visit www.cleanairpartnership.org