[Durham INC] FYI, city now has an idling reduction policy

[Alice Bumgarner]

> Neighbors,
>
> I'm not sure this got any press, so I wanted to pass it along. While  
> there are many exceptions, there is now a policy against idling city  
> cars. This plan was brought to us by Tobin Freid, Durham  
> Sustainability Manager.
>
> Diane Daniel on Clarendon
>
> CITY OF DURHAM
> IDLING REDUCTION POLICY
> Issued November 25, 2008
>
> I.  PURPOSE
>
> Reduce Vehicle Idling
> Unnecessary vehicle idling wastes resources, harms vehicle  
> components, and contributes to pollution.  Idling vehicles get zero  
> miles per gallon, wasting fuel and money.  Running an engine at low  
> speed (idling) also causes twice the wear on internal parts compared  
> to driving at regular speeds. Over the last several years, Durham  
> and other communities in the Triangle have been attempting to lessen  
> pollutants that pose a detriment to the region’s air quality. These  
> pollutants associated with vehicle exhaust include nitrogen oxide,  
> particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. In addition,  
> vehicle idling contributes to carbon dioxide emissions, which  
> contribute to climate change.  Reducing emissions will help the City  
> reach the goals set forth in Durham’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan.
>
> II. POLICY
>
> Effective immediately, unless exempted in the following section, no  
> City vehicle or piece of motorized equipment is to be idled in a non- 
> emergency situation. The operator of the vehicle/equipment is to  
> turn-off the unit immediately upon reaching the destination and the  
> keys are to be removed from the ignition.
>
> III. EXEMPTIONS
> The following situations will allow idling, as needed:
> Police Department vehicles actively working traffic enforcement  
> details and K-9 vehicles actively maintaining a safe environment for  
> assigned animals;
> When vehicles at job sites require the use of warning lights, power  
> take-offs (PTOs), pumps and/or other accessories to accomplish their  
> assignment;
> When vehicle operators are reasonably utilizing on-board equipment  
> such as video cameras or mobile data terminals in the conduct of  
> city business; and
> During inclement weather conditions with below-freezing temperatures  
> when the supervisor authorizes the reasonable, occasional use of the  
> vehicle/equipment heater-defroster for the work crew’s comfort.
>
> IV.  APPLICABILITY
>
> This policy applies to all City of Durham vehicles and motorized  
> equipment with the exception of vehicles operated by the Durham Area  
> Transit Authority and ACCESS.
>
>
>
>
>
> V.  PROCEDURES
>
> Operators of vehicle/equipment and supervisors will be judicious in  
> the idling of units at emergency scenes and job sites. If not all  
> the units at the scene/site need to be idling, those units must be  
> turned-off and the keys removed from the ignition.
> Each vehicle/equipment operator will be responsible for the idling  
> operation of their unit and will have the unit keys in their  
> possession to ensure that crewmembers do not arbitrarily violate the  
> policy without the operator’s knowledge.
>
> While using equipment such as video cameras or mobile data terminals  
> for data entry or reference purposes, operators should use a  
> standard of reasonableness.  By way of example, filling out a short  
> report or form is an appropriate and reasonable use of a mobile data  
> terminal.  Writing a lengthy document that could be done back at the  
> department office is not appropriate and reasonable.
>
> Supervisors in each department/division will be responsible for the  
> adherence and enforcement of the idling policy. Violations of the  
> policy will be documented as to the vehicle/equipment operator,  
> vehicle number, location, date and time, weather conditions, and  
> circumstances of the violation.
>
> The vehicle/equipment operator will be informed of the violation by  
> the supervisor at the time of the infraction.  The appointing  
> authority of each department/division will be responsible for the  
> discipline of employees found to be violating the policy. Discipline  
> will be per City of Durham PER 304, R-4 Disciplinary Policy.   
> Discipline will be progressive as described in PER 304, R-4.
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Diane Daniel, freelance writer
> Blog: http://www.placeswegopeoplewesee.com/
> NC guidebook: http://www.farmfreshnc.com/
> Everything else: http://www.bydianedaniel.com/
> 1221 Clarendon St., Durham, NC 27705
> 919-286-9293/diane at bydianedaniel.com
>
>
>
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