Anti-Idling Laws: Landlords and Tenants Beware

Over the past two years, many states have passed “anti-idling” laws that prohibit excessive motor vehicle idling. The laws typically prohibit idling for more than three to five minutes at a time in any one-hour period. While the focus of these laws is on owners and operators of larger commercial vehicles, many are written so broadly, that enforcement procedures and fines can be imposed on landlords/property owners and tenants of property on which third party regulated vehicles are operating. So whether you are a landlord/property owner or tenant at virtually any commercial property (e.g., industrial/warehouse/distribution facilities, retail centers, office buildings, hotels, truck stops, gas stations or apartment complexes), you must be aware of the potential liability you face arising out of the growing number of these laws.