University of Colorado Colorado Springs
OP-2: Outdoor Air Quality

UCCS is in the final stage of approving this no-idling procedures. The language is as follows: I. Procedures The University’s “General Procedures regarding Idling on Campus" sets certain guidelines and restrictions for the idling of a vehicle by any member of the university community be they faculty, retired faculty, administrator, professional exempt staff, classified staff, temporary employee, student, contractor or any individual or company using university property, equipment or resources. These procedures are consistent with Colorado House Bill 11-1275 and Colorado Revised Statutes 42-4-1206. III. PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to establish guidelines to reduce resource consumption and emissions release through the reduction of unnecessary vehicular idling, to improve the air quality on campus and reduce vehicle theft. V. PROCEDURES A. Idling Reduction: The following limitations are to be followed for any vehicle operating on the UCCS campus and for any UCCS fleet vehicle whenever in operation. 1. No person shall allow a vehicle to idle for more than five (5) minutes in any one-hour period unless: (1) The ambient outside air temperature has been less than twenty (20) degrees Fahrenheit for each hour of the previous twenty-four (24) hour period; or (2) The latest hourly ambient outside air temperature is less than ten (10) degrees Fahrenheit 2. Vehicles shall never be left idling when unattended. Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1206, more commonly known as the "puffer" law, allows law enforcement officers across the state to immediately ticket individuals who have left a vehicle running unattended for any period of time. B. Idling Exceptions: Exceptions to this guideline have been identified for the following circumstances: a) When idling for up to twenty minutes in any sixty-minute period if the ambient temperature is less than ten degrees. b) When it remains motionless because of highway traffic, an official traffic control device or signal, or at the direction of a law enforcement officer; c) When the driver is operating defrosters, heaters, or air conditioners or is installing equipment only to prevent a safety or health emergency, and not for rest periods; d) In the case of a law enforcement, emergency, public safety, or military vehicle, or any other vehicle used to respond to an emergency, when it is responding to an emergency or being used for training for an emergency, and not for the convenience of the vehicle operator; e) When necessary for required maintenance, servicing, or repair of the vehicle; f) During a local, state, or federal inspection verifying that the equipment is in good working order if required for the inspection; g) During the operation of power take-off equipment if necessary for operating work-related mechanical or electrical equipment; h) In the case of an armored vehicle, when a person is inside the vehicle to guard its contents or during the loading or unloading of the vehicle; i) University shuttle buses. See Attachment C