California Incentives and Laws for Idle Reduction

The list below contains summaries of all California incentives and laws related to Idle Reduction.

State Incentives

Emissions Reductions Grants

The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program provides incentive-based funding to cover the incremental cost of purchasing engines and equipment that are cleaner than required by law. Eligible projects include heavy-duty fleet modernization, light-duty vehicle replacements and retrofits, idle reduction, and off-road vehicle and equipment purchases. The Carl Moyer Program provides funds for significant near-term reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions, reactive organic gases, and particulate matter emissions. Contact local air districts for more information about grant funding availability and distribution from the Carl Moyer Program. (Reference California Health and Safety Code 44280, 44229, and 44299))

Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions Reduction Grants

The Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program provides funding for projects that reduce emissions from freight movement in the state, including heavy-duty truck replacement, repower, or retrofit; and truck stop electrification infrastructure development. Contact local air districts for more information about funding availability and distribution from the Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program. (Reference California Health and Safety Code 39625-39627.5)

Laws and Regulations

Heavy-Duty Truck Idle Reduction Requirements

A driver of a diesel-fueled vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds may not idle the vehicle's primary engine for more than five minutes at any location, and is not allowed to operate a diesel-fueled auxiliary power system (APS) on the vehicle for more than five minutes when located within 100 feet of a restricted area. Exceptions apply in certain situations and for certain vehicles. Any internal combustion APS used in California must comply with applicable state off-road and/or federal non-road emissions standards and test procedures for its fuel type and power category to ensure that emissions do not exceed the emissions of a truck engine operating at idle.

Model Year 2008 and newer heavy-duty diesel engines must be equipped with non-programmable engine shutdown systems that automatically shut down the engine after five minutes of idling or optionally meet a stringent nitrogen oxide idling emissions standard. Operators of trucks equipped with sleeper berths are required to manually shut down the engine when idling more than five minutes at any location within California and are subject to fines for violation. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will not register, renew, or transfer registration for any vehicle operator who has received a violation until the violation is cleared.

(Reference California Code of Regulations Title 13, Section 2485)

Idle Reduction Requirement at Schools

A school bus driver must turn off the engine upon stopping at a school, or within 100 feet of a school, and may not turn the engine on more than 30 seconds before departing from the location. When the bus is at least 100 feet away from a school, the driver may not idle the engine for more than five consecutive minutes, or for periods totaling more than five minutes during any one hour period. Transit and commercial vehicle operators may not idle for more than five consecutive minutes at each stop within 100 feet of a school, or for periods totaling more than five minutes during any one hour period. Exemptions apply for necessary idling while stopped in traffic, at traffic signals, and at the direction of law enforcement personnel. (Reference California Code of Regulations Title 13, Section 2480)

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Content Last Updated: 07/14/2011