Stop Signs

I was pleased to see the Perspective by Henry Stimpson (“The Massachusetts Car-Idling Law No

One Seems to Care About,” February 25). This has long been a concern, and there seems to be no enforcement of this law! Every morning a neighbor of mine leaves her car running for 30 minutes! In my experience, police and fire departments can be the worst offenders. During a recent (nonemergency) response in my community, there were four police SUVs, an ambulance, and a fire truck, with engines idling for over an hour while they were inside the home.

Tracey Chalifour Amesbury

To do one’s part, drive the speed limit! I believe we easily get swept into going over the posted speed, when we do not need to hurry. Mardi Fish Bourne

One of the side benefits of so many new EVs on the road is the lack of exhaust in traffic, and during idling. The writer has made many laudable efforts to create awareness of the idling law, without success. Perhaps it would be more effective to simply encourage the worst idlers to find an electric car. I LOVE my wife’s Mustang Mach E, GT Performance SUV. Exhaust-free too; idle all you want!

Jeff Kevorkian Middleton

If Henry Stimpson wants to stop idling, he should start with the commuter rail system. I hear the engines idling all through the night — I assume for the comfort of the morning commuters.

Michael Huntington

Scituate

I find the focus on idling odd. Drivers here seem to believe that everyone can make up their own rules and laws, not only re: idling.

While there are plenty of signs on highways and roads in towns setting “speed limits,” there are [seemingly] no drivers who see these as laws to obey. And where there is no enforcement, the laws do not exist.

Alan Fisher Bedford

Finally, someone has raised the issue of unnecessary idling. I have even asked a cop, who decided not to take action. The issue needs much more publicity.

Don Hnatowich

Brookline

I didn’t know about the five-minute law. I will stop remote-starting my car unless there’s a snowstorm. Manny Fortuna

Braintree

Many cars are now coming from the factory with a feature called auto stop/ start, which shuts the engine down each time one comes to a complete stop. One can disable it, but a button must be pushed each time one starts the car. I find this feature distracting and objectionable, question if it amounts to any gas savings, and will definitely find an aftermarket solution to permanently disable this irritating feature.

Rick Gilberg

Swampscott

Annoying car idlers are in every shopping center and not a bit conscious about starting up their vehicles and then dialing on their cellphones and chatting! Have they noticed that someone might be waiting for their parking space?

Diane Griffin South Portland, Maine

Not idling is such an easy way for us to help address climate change. As Stimpson also pointed out, these drivers are also wasting gas. I was impressed that he would knock on folks’ windows to suggest they stop idling. Not surprising that some of them got angry. It’s also impressive how much effort he’s made to work with officials to try to get positive movement on this issue. I hope Governor Healey’s administration is more receptive of pushing the law.

Peter Reed Maynard

I live on the South Coast in Fairhaven and regularly bike over the New Bedford-Fairhaven Swing Bridge. The bridge closes several times a day to vehicular traffic for as long as 20 minutes, clearly longer than the five-minute idling limit. An activist group I co-chair, the Climate Reality Project/ Massachusetts Southcoast

Chapter, reached out to MassDOT to see about getting anti-idling signs on the bridge back in 2022 and got a very disappointing response. We can do better. Laura Gardner

Fairhaven

I’ve been annoyed and disappointed by this same thing for many years. I thank Mr. Stimpson for his concern and earnest efforts to address the problem of mass contempt of a wellintentioned law that, as he explained, would truly make a difference to our lives and the environment.

Ian Boardman

Arlington

It seems to me an empty car left with the engine running is an invitation to someone looking for free wheels. Doesn’t possible theft of their vehicles influence people? Perhaps a question about idling could be included in the drivers’ written test, preceded by information on the subject in the booklet learners are given. Marjorie A. Greenberg

Dedham

Where I live, people drive to a beach parking lot and sit in their idling cars. They are reading the paper, doing paperwork, or just watching the water. I have spoken to some of them, and have gotten the same variety of reactions that the writer has (although no one has thanked me yet). I was dismayed to read of the lack of success he had in trying to encourage government officials and business owners to step up on this issue. This is such an easy way to help the environment! I plan to keep up my campaign here, one car at a time.

Fran Weidman-Dahl

Brewster

There is something we can all do. The State of Massachusetts, in partnership with the Mass DEP, created an Idling Reduction Toolkit that anyone can implement in their community. Many residents are unaware of the anti-idling law, as are many local boards of health and local police. The purpose of the toolkit is to educate citizens about air pollution resulting from vehicle idling and to reduce idling behavior. I plan on implementing it in my community.

M. Hurley Acton