For Immediate Release
October 18, 2007
Contact: SharonLee, 646-879-3289
Sent via Internet

*** News Release ***

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CMS LIU, ARROYO, JACKSON INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO STRICTLY CURB ENGINE IDLING
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CITY HALL, NY – Council Members Maria del Carmen Arroyo (D-Bronx),
Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) and John C. Liu (D-Queens) yesterday
introduced legislation intended to protect the health of
schoolchildren and improve overall air quality for all New Yorkers by
reducing the time allowed for drivers to keep their engines running
idle while parked or standing adjacent to a school. More than 10% of
New York City elementary schoolchildren suffer from asthma, and
numerous studies have indicated exhaust fumes not only exacerbate but
can also cause asthma.

Currently, drivers within City limits are permitted to keep their
vehicle engines idling only for up to three minutes. The bill's main
provision would cut that allowance to one minute when a motor vehicle
is parked or standing along a curb adjacent to any school, from pre-K
through 12th grade. The bill would also clarify that authorized
emergency vehicles, currently exempt from the idling restrictions,
would be exempt only during the course of emergency-related actions.
It would further require the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) to
include a question about idling on licensing exams and for the
Department of Environmental Protection to report on a quarterly basis
the number of idling tickets they've issued.

CM Liu, Chairperson of the Transportation Committee and lead sponsor
of the bill, stated: "The current three minute idling rule is
difficult to enforce and allows for a mindset of waiting for a couple
of minutes while letting the engine run. With this legislation we are
urging drivers to shut off their engines anytime they are parked or
standing at a school. For the sake of children's lungs, just shut it
off—immediately—don't even wait for 59 seconds."

Current fines for violating the anti-idling law begin at $220 and
escalate to as much as $2,000 for repeat violators.  This bill does
not change the penalty scale already in effect.

CM Jackson, Chairperson of the Education Committee and co-sponsor of
the bill, said: "People ask, 'So what's the big deal?' Try standing
behind a bus for three minutes. Or just try to hold your breath for
three minutes. That's why it's a big deal."

CM Arroyo, co-sponsor of the bill, stated: "The incessant exhaust
fumes around our schools are choking our children. The City must take
this proactive approach to try and minimize the long-term health
impacts of air pollution perpetuated by engines kept idle. It just
doesn't make sense to keep an engine idle for so long, especially
around schools and children, when all it takes it to simply turn the
engine off until needed."

The bill's sponsors announced the legislation at a news conference at
City Hall before the Stated meeting yesterday afternoon.  They were
joined by several community and environmental advocates as well as
Council Members Melissa Mark Viverito (D-Manhattan) and Miguel
Martinez (D-Manhattan) who expressed their support for the bill.

Rebecca Kalin of Asthma Free School Zone (AFSZ) stated, "The
microenvironment of the school zone deserves protection because it
contains an extraordinary collection of individuals—children—with an
extraordinary vulnerability to pollution. This legislation is
important not only because it recognizes the 'school zone' but because
it recognizes that unnecessary idling by all vehicles—cars, trucks and
buses—is a threat to children's health and, therefore, a threat to
their ability to learn and reach full potential."

Anhthu Hoang, General Counsel for WE ACT for Environmental Justice,
Inc., stated, "WE ACT is very glad that the City Council is taking
steps to protect the health of New York City's school children.  We
applaud Transportation Committee Chairman Liu for his continuing
efforts to improve the City's transportation services while improving
our air quality."

"Idling pollutes the air, wastes fuel and wastes money," said Mel
Peffers, Air Quality Project Manager with Environmental Defense.
"Eliminating idling removes the pollution right where it is needed
most—on the sidewalks and in our neighborhoods where we walk, play,
and live. New York City needs a well-enforced anti-idling law, and by
providing special protection for school zones, this bill is an
important step in that direction."

CM Liu added, "This measure is all the more sensible considering that
one leading reason drivers idle their car, truck or bus engine seems
to be to keep the heat or air-conditioning on. However, we can no
longer afford—nor can the health of our children allow—motor vehicles
to be used as personal climate-control devices."

This legislation will assuredly have dramatic and far-reaching
environmental and public health benefits for many years to come—and
will result in a literal "breath of fresh air" for millions of New
Yorkers, including the more than 300,000 city children who each day
struggle with chronic respiratory illness.  A copy of this bill is
available by fax or email.  Please contact SharonLee at 646-879-3289.

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