COLD SHOCK: Warming up your car illegal!

[Fay Dickson-- AKA doofs]

It's stunning news to Americans from frigid East to frozen plains
Video at : http://www.wnd.com/2014/01/cold-shock-warming-up-your-car-illegal/                          

WASHINGTON – The recent nationwide cold snap isn’t just making Americans uncomfortable. It’s turning some into lawbreakers.

The shocking news of state and local regulations that make it illegal to warm up your frozen car is hitting home in Texas, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, Colorado, Wisconsin, South Carolina – even some cities in Minnesota.

Who knew it could be illegal to run back inside while your car is warming up in winter – in a practice sometimes called “puffing”?

Many Americans are getting first-hand experience this brutal winter with the latest manifestation of what some call the “Nanny State.”

The reason for such laws is usually linked with the increased threat of vehicles being stolen – and some of them carry hefty fines for enticing car thieves to commit their crimes. The laws are a little fuzzy on the newer technology of “auto-start” vehicles specifically designed for the comfort of their drivers and passengers.

• In 2004, the state of Ohio enacted a law that states, “No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition. …” The fine in Ohio is $150.
• A similar law in West Virginia puts the first-offense fine at $100 and the second at $500.
• You might be surprised to learn that even Texas has a state law against “puffing.” The “puffing” is the tell-tale exhaust that comes out the back of the car on cold mornings. Leaving a vehicle unattended with the keys still in the ignition – whether it’s running or not – is a violation of the Texas Transportation Code. It’s a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500.

http://www.wnd.com/2014/01/cold-shock-warming-up-your-car-illegal/