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Anti-Idling Ordinance
Important Updates
Enforcement
Exemptions
Motor vehicles weighing over 14,000 pounds are prohibited from idling for more than five minutes within the City of Dallas, and several other areas throughout North Texas. Previously, this ordinance was in effect only April through October. As of November 7, 2011, the ordinance in effect year round.
The purpose of the anti-idling ordinance is to help improve air quality in Dallas and throughout the nine-county ozone non-attainment region. Transportation accounts for more than 70 percent of the air pollution that leads to the formation of ozone.
Idling releases more diesel exhaust than when the vehicle is in motion, which contributes to health problems such as premature death, cancer, heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, emphysema, and asthma. Idling also wastes fuel, which increases operating costs for vehicle owners. It is estimated that the average truck burns one gallon of fuel per hour idling, and trucks idle for over 1,800 hours per year. That’s over $5,000 dollars each year just to idle. The U.S. EPA estimates that excess idling is responsible for:
- Over one billion gallons of diesel fuel consumed annually in the U.S.
- Over 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, 200 thousand tons of nitrogen oxides, and 5,000 tons of particulate matter emitted annually in the U.S.
- Increased engine maintenance costs and a 20 percent decrease in engine life
- Impaired driver health
To Report an Idling Vehicle
If you see a vehicle over 14,000 pounds idling for over 5 minutes, please dial 311 and report the vehicle’s license plate number
to the operator.
If outside the Dallas city limits, call 1-877-NTX-IDLE.
You can also report idling vehicles online.
How to order a restricted idling sign or brochures
Order signs or brochures
Click here to order materials online.
(One sign is offered free. There will be a charge for additional signs.)
Resource Links
