Know This Illinois Law Before Starting Your Car this Winter

We've come to a time of year where it's beginning to get a little frosty first thing in the morning. But, it won't be long until it will be really cold when you get ready to head for work or school.

Get our free mobile app

For many of us, standard procedure when it's cold is to take a few minutes, start up our car and let it run so it's warm by the time we're ready to leave.

But, if you live in Illinois, did you know that it is against the law to leave your car running unattended?

Actually, some form of law prohibiting leaving a running car unattended has been on the books in the Land of Lincoln since at least the 70s.

The current law, in effect since 2017, reads, "No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway."

The exception is a car with remote start, since although the car is running, the doors are locked and the car won't move unless the key is inside the car.

While it's tempting to let your car run for a few minutes to warm it up on a cold day, leaving it running unattended with the key in the ignition is asking for trouble.