It's illegal to do what!!???
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 630
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
It's illegal to do what!!???
I just found out last night that it is illegal in the fine state of Maryland to use my remote car starter. I was at the Foodlion at about 2am getting some things for the wife and it was COLD outside. So on my way out of the store I hit the button and start the truck. Just then a county police officer pulls around in front of my truck and gets out. I walk up and he says "Son, dod you know that it is against the law in this state to leave your vehicle running unattended?". I say no, being from MA, and NH I am unaware of this strange rule. He then goes on to say "there is a mandatory $50.00 fine for this offense, but I will let you off because you are from out of state".
My problem is this.. why can you go to ANY car audio/electronics place in the state of MD and get one of these bad boys installed if it is ILLEGAL to use it???? Does anyone else's state have a law like this??
I can understand not leaving your car running with the keys in it with your kids in the back. But come on now, he watched me push the darn button... Sorry for the rant, but goodness I wish this made sense.
Bill
My problem is this.. why can you go to ANY car audio/electronics place in the state of MD and get one of these bad boys installed if it is ILLEGAL to use it???? Does anyone else's state have a law like this??
I can understand not leaving your car running with the keys in it with your kids in the back. But come on now, he watched me push the darn button... Sorry for the rant, but goodness I wish this made sense.
Bill
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,577
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From: Southern MD
It's illegal to do what!!???
As a Marylander, I've not heard about this law. But, they do sneak in a lot of useless laws that arent published for the folks to be aware of.
I believe Circuit City sell the units, but don't know if they install them here.
Where were you in MD? Maybe it was a town ordinance, and not a State? law?
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I believe Circuit City sell the units, but don't know if they install them here.
Where were you in MD? Maybe it was a town ordinance, and not a State? law?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: Bakersfield Ca.
It's illegal to do what!!???
>Does
>anyone else's state have a law like this??
> Bill
I feel your frustration. My opinion is this. What state does not have dumb laws pertaining to just about everything? If it's not about cars then it's about guns. If it's not guns then it's about daycare. Or it's about building codes or it's about the environment, labor laws, product liability or anything else law makers can get their hands on to generate revenue by making John Q Public pay for permits or access, or pay the fines because you didn't have permission or the permit. Control freaks some of them. Not counting campaign promises to keep the money flowing from those politicaly correct special interests groups who contributed their election win. Some of them are the result of superfluous litigation trumped up by trial lawyers. Now I'm just talking about all the DUMB laws and we all know which ones those are don't we? Take your pick.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 3
From: Summit, NJ
It's illegal to do what!!???
Perhaps he didn't hear the car start and thought it was running with the keys in it. I believe several states have laws against letting it run with the keys in it.
James Kern
1970 F250 4x4
James Kern
1970 F250 4x4
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 467
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From: WEEDSPORT NY
It's illegal to do what!!???
In NY it is illegal to leave your keys in the car "un-attended". With the remote starter your keys are not in your car, so what's the big deal. I leave my truck running to warm up some times, but always with the doors locked. I wouldn't worry about it to much, just deal with it in court, if need be.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 3
From: Summit, NJ
It's illegal to do what!!???
Im guessing they can give you a hard time because there is probably a loophole they can get you on. When the laws where written there may have been no such thing as remote starters. Hopefully someday they will change the laws around. The remote starters are relatively safe. Most if not all of them have safeguards requiring the door to be unlocked first and the key inserted to allow you to drive off with the vehicle. On my friends chebby, he has the remote start option. After it is remotely started... if the car is still locked and I pull up the handle, the car will shut off. If the car is unlocked and I try to engage the car or touch the brake / accelerator.. no go. To me that sounds pretty safe that someone can't just get in and drive away. Perhaps someday they'll update the laws to make an exception to remote starters.
James Kern
1970 F250 4x4
James Kern
1970 F250 4x4
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
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From: Enjoying the real world.
It's illegal to do what!!???
I'm going to play devil's advocate... There is a good reason...
What if the vehicle broke a motor mount and floored it as a result? Or the tranny went into drive and the truck moved on its own? Any time you leave a vehicle running with no one behind the wheel there is potential for uncontrolled and unforseen movement of the vehicle.
What if the vehicle broke a motor mount and floored it as a result? Or the tranny went into drive and the truck moved on its own? Any time you leave a vehicle running with no one behind the wheel there is potential for uncontrolled and unforseen movement of the vehicle.
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Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Summit, NJ
It's illegal to do what!!???
Quite true. There is always the possibility in that the lockout mechanism that would shut the car off if the key wasn't inserted would malfunction and you would have a runaway vehicle on your hands. That would suck.
James Kern
1970 F250 4x4
James Kern
1970 F250 4x4
Elder User
Joined: Nov 1999
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It's illegal to do what!!???
In a way I agree that it could be dangerous, but that isn't the reason for the law. The goal of a legislator is to get a law passed with his name on it. They call it "ticket-punching," and it's how you get known in the political world. Anything that can be veiled under the "public safety" banner or has the possibility of bringing in cash, has a very good chance of being approved without much debate. So the next time you encounter a senseless law that inconveniences you, just think of why you didn't vote in the last election. Then, write a letter to the other polititians voicing your displeasure, one of the blood-suckers may want to gain your vote by getting rid of the offending law.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
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From: Enjoying the real world.
It's illegal to do what!!???
Agreed. While it *could* happen, a runaway vehicle with modern safeguards on the start circuit is very unlikely -- especially since the computer controls the tranny.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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It's illegal to do what!!???
Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto have a by-law for this too.
In this case, it is all about Vehicle Emissions though.
Dennis
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In this case, it is all about Vehicle Emissions though.
Dennis
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Lorain,Oh USA
It's illegal to do what!!???
one thing nobody mentioned here are Big Trucks. i leave mine running at a truck-stop or rest area all the time. most all of the trucks at places like these are running -even in Maryland. when drivers sleep in the cab or sleeper, you have to leave the motor running otherwise youll freeze do death.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,146
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From: Colorado
It's illegal to do what!!???
In my neck of the woods, these laws have been passed because of the number of vehicles that are stolen while left unattended. Another issue here are the kids left in the running car that is stolen from the convenience store, gas station, etc.
Denver, along with some of the surrounding cities have started issuing tickets, not only at the stores, but in front of your own house as well. I can understand the police departments logic, yet I find it a matter of choice myself. They have enough to deal with, don't need more stolen vehicles adding to their workload.
I, on the other hand, figure if someone is dumb enough to steal any of my vehicles, they deserve them!
Denver, along with some of the surrounding cities have started issuing tickets, not only at the stores, but in front of your own house as well. I can understand the police departments logic, yet I find it a matter of choice myself. They have enough to deal with, don't need more stolen vehicles adding to their workload.
I, on the other hand, figure if someone is dumb enough to steal any of my vehicles, they deserve them!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,668
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From: Lincoln USA
It's illegal to do what!!???
It's more an issue of vehicles idling, and the emissions they produce. More and more states prohibit idling your vehicle for more than 5 minutes, and some states are even beginning to try and prohibit idling by diesels at truck stops. I guess frozen truckers mean less to the bureaucrats than the support of enviro-*****.