Kelowna Councillor Michele Rule wants the 
city to look at what it can do in the way of anti-idling legislation. Rule will bring up the issue with council Monday morning. "I would like to see staff bring back a report on what is being done in other communities," says Rule. "I'm not sure if we could do anything in the form of a bylaw or whether it would just be a city policy. That's why I want staff to look into what is being done elsewhere." Rule says she's not talking about drive-thrus necessarily, but idling of vehicles in general. "We do have a city policy against drive-thrus, except on highways," adds Rule. "Everyone is aware of the benefits of not idling. Saving money on gas and the safety aspect of not sending emissions into the air."
Rule is bringing up the matter after receiving a letter from businessman Trevor Salloum, who wanted to know if a bylaw, similar to one enacted in Vancouver in 2006, could work in Kelowna. The Vancouver bylaw makes it illegal for parked vehicles to idle for more than three minutes. Fines range from $50 for basic violators to $100 for heavy trucks, unlocked or unattended vehicles. Following an appeal from the Regional District's Air Quality Committee in 2007, Kelowna did agree to erect 'no idling' signs on city property. At the time, Mayor Sharon Shepherd didn't think the city was ready yet for a no-idling bylaw, "though we could see one down the line."
city to look at what it can do in the way of anti-idling legislation. Rule will bring up the issue with council Monday morning. "I would like to see staff bring back a report on what is being done in other communities," says Rule. "I'm not sure if we could do anything in the form of a bylaw or whether it would just be a city policy. That's why I want staff to look into what is being done elsewhere." Rule says she's not talking about drive-thrus necessarily, but idling of vehicles in general. "We do have a city policy against drive-thrus, except on highways," adds Rule. "Everyone is aware of the benefits of not idling. Saving money on gas and the safety aspect of not sending emissions into the air."Rule is bringing up the matter after receiving a letter from businessman Trevor Salloum, who wanted to know if a bylaw, similar to one enacted in Vancouver in 2006, could work in Kelowna. The Vancouver bylaw makes it illegal for parked vehicles to idle for more than three minutes. Fines range from $50 for basic violators to $100 for heavy trucks, unlocked or unattended vehicles. Following an appeal from the Regional District's Air Quality Committee in 2007, Kelowna did agree to erect 'no idling' signs on city property. At the time, Mayor Sharon Shepherd didn't think the city was ready yet for a no-idling bylaw, "though we could see one down the line."
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