by "SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
Published 01/26/2017 at 09:00
by "SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
Published 01/26/2017 at 09:00
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STARS: 4
A story swept the internet recently about a guy in Michigan who was ticketed for letting his car idle unattended in his own driveway. Soon, news outlets were falsely reporting that it is “Illegal to let your car idle unattended!” In some places it is; in others, it’s not. I explain here.
I was surprised at how much traction this story got but then again, people love those “Wacky Law” stories. And what is wackier than a law saying you can’t let your car idle unattended in your own driveway? Well, the story involved a man ticketed under a local ordinance, NOT state law. So all of the stories attributing the madness to the entire great state of Michigan were overreaching.
I wrote a piece about this for Roadandtrack.com and - even though there is no place for disgruntled readers to complain like there is here - I soon heard from people who insisted I was wrong. I double-checked my math and - turns out I was right. So, in this week’s podcast I explain everything there is to know on this topic, and even threw in all of the stuff inspired by those who told me (mistakenly) that I was wrong.
Here is the audio:
(If you can’t click on the thing below,
click on this.
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And the video:
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The pic at the top is just a reminder that spring is not too far off.
Follow me on Twitter: @stevelehto
Hear my podcast on iTunes: Lehto’s Law
Steve Lehto has been practicing law for 25 years, almost exclusively in consumer protection and Michigan lemon law. He wrote The Lemon Law Bible and Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow.
This website may supply general information about the law but it is for informational purposes only. This does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not meant to constitute legal advice, so the good news is we’re not billing you by the hour for reading this. The bad news is that you shouldn’t act upon any of the information without consulting a qualified professional attorney who will, probably, bill you by the hour.
"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
01/26/2017 at 09:19, STARS: 2
Thanks, Steve. I look forward to each of your posts.
Living in NJ, but growing up in MI with family still there, it’s like a little piece of Michigan each week.
Not that the lessons aren’t universal, but when you get MI-specific, I learn a ton because it makes me check NJ law afterward.
Not trying to be fanboy on this, but wanted to voice my appreciation.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
01/26/2017 at 09:28, STARS: 0
I appreciate the feedback.
Thanks for the note!
"CB" (jrcb)
01/26/2017 at 11:14, STARS: 1
In Toronto, we have a law that you can’t idle your vehicle for more that one minute, even if you’re in it, so this would kind of be a non-story here. Granted, I don’t know how often this law is enforced.
"jimz" (jimz)
01/26/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 1
I don’t know if this is something you could turn into a podcast topic, but something came to mind after I listened this morning. going to a show/swap meet this weekend so I have motorcycles on the mind:
A few other fellow riders have offered “tips” for staying safe, one of which was “be ready to kick the door of anyone trying to change lanes into you.” Probably bad advice just from the viewpoint it’d more likely piss off the guy in the car. But my thinking is couldn’t that be construed as the motorcyclist initiating a collision with the car and therefore being “at fault” and subject to a ticket?
(don’t need answer fast or anything, this is hypothetical.)
"ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
01/26/2017 at 14:55, STARS: 1
So according to the law, you are supposed to turn off your car at every red light? Or do you not have any long ones there? Around here, some are endless....
"CB" (jrcb)
01/26/2017 at 15:07, STARS: 1
I’m pretty sure you’re in the clear for lights, although I’d have to double check the wording of the law. Pretty sure you’re safe from a ticket waiting at a light or in traffic, though.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
01/26/2017 at 21:00, STARS: 0
That’s one of those things that would all depend on the circumstances and you could see it going either way.