Video: Idling Cars Can Cause Heavy Fines For Drivers

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Many people don’t realize they are breaking a law when they start their car up and walk away.

The state statue has been in effect for years and can cause some hefty fines.
State Statute 63-3-909 is clear.

It says no one driving or in charge of a vehicle should leave it unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key.

“It seems to be a law that’s designed for anti-theft to encourage people to not leave their cars running while unattended. You see it nationwide states like Maryland, Pittsburg, Michigan. They all have these anti-theft laws in place,” said Mark Ballard, with the Starkville Police Department.

Mark Ballard is the Captain of Operations at the Starkville Police Department.

He says although the law is in place to combat grand larcney, it isn’t a pressing problem in the golden triangle.

“In this type of weather, it’s very common to leave your vehicle running. And from a law enforcement stand point, we have a need for personnel and the issues that we face are a lot more significant than that of an unattended vehicle. And if an unattended vehicle was stolen, the individual who took the vehicle has already committed a felony. That’s where we’re going to put our resources at, not on the individual leaving the vehicle un-attended,” said Ballard.

The law has been in place since 1962, and if written a ticket, the cost can be high.

“If you were to get a ticket more than likely it would be a fine, the amount would be set by the court and it would be court cost. My guess is somewhere between $50 to $200 dollars,” said Lawyer Jeff Hosford, with Hosford Law Firm.

While the law can cause some controversy, Ballard says to remember why its there in the first place.

“Be mindful of leaving an unattended vehicle, you are exposed to theft. So just apply common sense there, keep your vehicle monitored, make sure you don’t leave it unattended with kids in the car,” added Ballard.
Often, the law is enforced at the officer’s own discretion, in areas where grand larceny is a big problem.