Idle Reduction Requirement

A vehicle may not idle for more than five minutes from April through October in cities and counties where the local government has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Exemptions apply for the following: vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,000 pounds (lbs.) or less; emergency or law enforcement vehicles; airport ground support vehicles; rented/leased vehicles; to perform needed work, including roadway construction, maintenance and diagnostics; to defrost a windshield; traffic conditions; and hours of service compliance activities. Vehicles may idle for up to 30 minutes for bus passenger comfort or transit operations. Fines vary by jurisdiction.

TCEQ may not prohibit or limit the idling of any vehicle with a GVWR greater than 8,500 lbs. provided that the vehicle is equipped with a 2008 or subsequent model year heavy-duty diesel or natural gas engine that is certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or another state agency to emit no more than 30 grams of nitrogen oxides per hour when idling.

(Reference Texas Statutes, Health and Safety Code 382.0191 and Texas Administrative Code Title 30, Part 1, Chapter 114, Subchapter J, Division 2, Rule 30.114.510-30.114.517)