Back to 1998 By-laws index

        
Authority:     Urban Environment and Development Committee Report No. 11, Clause No. 2,
               as adopted by Council on October 1 and 2, 1998
Enacted by Council:  October 2, 1998     CITY OF TORONTO
                                       BY-LAW No. 673-1998

                       To Prohibit Excessive Idling of Vehicles and Boats.

        1.     As used in this by-law, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

               (1)     BOAT - A ship or any other  description of vessel not propelled by oars and
                       includes a  boat used exclusively for  towing purposes, a water  taxi and a
                       boat used on water for living purposes.

               (2)     IDLE - The operation of the  engine of a boat or vehicle while  the vehicle
                       or boat is not in motion and not being  used to operate auxiliary equipment
                       that  is  essential to  the  basic function  of  the vehicle  or  boat, and
                        idling  has a corresponding meaning.

               (3)     LAYOVER - A stopping point along  a transit route for a maximum of  fifteen
                       (15) minutes used  by transit vehicles to allow transit  vehicles to adjust
                       to service schedules.

               (4)     MOBILE WORKSHOP:

                       (a)    A vehicle  containing equipment that must  be operated  inside or in
                              association with the vehicle; or

                       (b)    A vehicle  serving as a facility  for taking  measurements or making
                              observations operated  by or  on behalf  of  a municipality,  public
                              utility or police, fire or ambulance service.

               (5)     OFFICIAL -  A  police  officer,  police cadet,  municipal  law  enforcement
                       officer or any person authorized to enforce this chapter.

               (6)     STOPOVER -  A scheduled delay  of a maximum  of fifteen  (15) minutes at  a
                       transit vehicle terminal  to allow  transit vehicles to  adjust to  service
                       schedules.

               (7)     TRANSIT VEHICLE - Public transit vehicles, tour buses and motor coaches.

               (8)     VEHICLE - A  motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor or road-
                       building machine  as defined  in the  Highway Traffic  Act and  any vehicle
                       drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of non-muscular power,  but does not
                       include  cars of  electric or  diesel electric  railways running  only upon
                       rails.

        2.     (1)     No person shall  cause or permit a  vehicle or boat  to idle for more  than
three (3) minutes in a sixty-minute period.

               (2)     Subsection A does not apply to:

                       (a)    Police,  fire or  ambulance  vehicles  or  boats  while  engaged  in
                              operational activities, including training activities, except  where
                              idling is substantially for the convenience  of the operator of  the
                              vehicle or boat.

                       (b)    Vehicles and boats assisting in an emergency activity.
                       (c)    Ferry boats operated  by the City of  Toronto or the Toronto Harbour
                              Commissioners providing  service to the  Toronto Islands,  including
                              the Toronto Island Airport.
                       (d)    Boats not at anchor or tied to a dock.

                       (e)    Mobile workshops  while they  are in  the course  of being used  for
                              their basic function.

                       (f)    Vehicles or boats where idling is required to repair the vehicle  or
                              boat or to prepare a vehicle or boat for service.

                       (g)    Armoured vehicles  where a person remains  inside the vehicle  while
                              guarding the contents of the vehicle or  while the vehicle is  being
                              loaded or unloaded.

                       (h)    Vehicles  or  boats  required to  remain  motionless  because  of an
                              emergency, traffic,  weather conditions  or mechanical  difficulties
                              over which the driver has no control.

                       (i)    Vehicles or  boats engaged in a  parade or race  or any other  event
                              authorized by Council.

                       (j)    Transit vehicles while  passengers are embarking or disembarking  en
                              route or in terminals.

                       (k)    Transit  vehicles while  at a  layover or  stopover location  except
                              where idling  is substantially  for the convenience of  the operator
                              of the vehicle.

                       (l)    Vehicles transporting a  person where a medical doctor certifies  in
                              writing that  for medical  reasons a  person in  a vehicle  requires
                              that temperature or humidity be maintained within a certain range.

                       (m)    Vehicles or boats when the ambient  temperature inside a vehicle  or
                              boat is:

                              (a)     More than twenty-seven degrees Celsius (27°C.); or

                              (b)     Less than five degrees Celsius (5°C.).

        3.     Any person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence.

        ENACTED AND PASSED this 2nd day of  October, A.D. 1998.

CASE OOTES,                                                                NOVINA WONG,           
        Deputy Mayor                                                                    City Clerk

(Corporate Seal)