Liberty Lake Won’t Enforce Own ‘No Idling’ Law

LIBERTY LAKE — People might want to think twice before they idle their car in Liberty Lake.  The city recently passed a resolution declaring itself a “no idle zone.”

But the city won’t enforce the idea.

The idea came from idling cars at local schools.  On a normal school day people are parked there, idling in their cars, dropping off and picking up kids. That’s why signs are around town, to encourage less pollution.

“The no idle zone specifically addresses what we all know is to be true,” says Liberty Lake Mayor Wendy Van Orman.  “Vehicle exhaust is a leading cause of air pollution.”

The city recently passed a resolution asking residents and visitors to do less idling of their cars.  If you find yourself stopped in a running car for longer than 30 seconds, you’re asked to turn it off. And it’s entirely voluntary.

“I certainly understand in the school zones trying to keep the air a little cleaner for the children,” says one Liberty Lake driver named Janet.

City officials say every time a car drops and picks up kids at school, it dumps three pounds of pollution into the air, per month. That’s why the city wants to clean-up its air.

“This key chain is not a key chain.  It’s a guilt chain,” Mayor Van Orman says.  “This is supposed to be something that reminds you that this is a no idle zone.”

There were a few offenders in a Liberty Lake parking lot, and idling away at traffic lights and drive-thrus.  That included Colby Fredin, eating lunch in his air conditioned car.

“When it’s 90 degrees out,” he says, “I need my air conditioning going or I’m going to roast to death.”

In theory, drivers say it’s a good idea.  But then there’s reality.

“With gas prices the way they are, I can’t afford to do that at every stop light or at every drive-thru I go to,” says Stephan Draggoo.  “So, like I said, it’s really ridiculous.”

So if drivers decide that they want to idle it’s entirely up to them. Police can’t ticket them.