While city councillors in Toronto consider cracking down on drivers who idle their cars for just one minute, CTV Ottawa has learned a similar bylaw in the City of Ottawa has resulted in just three tickets since the anti-idling bylaw was brought in nearly three years ago.
The City of Ottawa's chief of bylaw services says tickets for idling are generally issued in response to public complaints.
"I believe it is working. I believe our complaints are going down about idling," Linda Anderson told CTV Ottawa on Tuesday.
In 2007, the City of Ottawa passed an anti-idling bylaw that fines drivers $100 if they let their vehicle run idle for more than three minutes. Since then, bylaw officers have issued just three tickets.
Now, the City of Toronto is considering a new bylaw that would fine motorists $125 if a vehicle is left sitting idle for one minute.
"Obviously what Toronto is doing is interesting. I don't know if we want to go there, but if we're going to have a bylaw to protect public health, we better make sure that it's working," said Coun. Alex Cullen.
He adds the bylaw is worth having to help protect the city's air quality.
However, while some believe the bylaw is working, others think it should be scrapped.
"When you think of all the cost of the staff time and all the committee meetings we had to bring around this bylaw, in the end you're producing three tickets and really no environmental benefit. It's time to just kill it," said Coun. Rick Chiarelli.
Anderson says the city's main focus is to educate drivers about the anti-idling bylaw with a blitz each spring and fall.
"We usually put five to six officers on and that's all they do is speak to (drivers), give them a brochure and discuss the issue with them about idling," she said.
The City of Toronto votes on the bylaw proposal next month.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
