THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF BURLINGTON

 
BY-LAW NUMBER 27-2009

 

A by-law to prohibit unnecessary idling of vehicles within the City of Burlington

 

WHEREAS section 11(2)(5) of the Municipal Act, S. O. 2001, Chapter 25, as amended, authorizes municipalities to pass by-laws for the economic, social and environmental well-being of the municipality; and

 

WHEREAS section 11(2)(6) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, Chapter 25, as amended authorizes municipalities to pass by-laws related to the health, safety, and well-being of persons; and

 

WHEREAS section 11(3)(8) of the Municipal Act, S. O. 2001, Chapter 25, as amended, authorizes municipalities to pass by-laws for parking; and

 

WHEREAS section 100.1(1) of the Municipal Act, S. O. 2001, Chapter 25, as amended, authorizes municipalities in respect of land not owned or occupied by the municipality, to regulate or prohibit the parking or leaving of motor vehicles without the consent of the owner of the land; and

 

WHEREAS section 128(1) of the Municipal Act, S. O. 2001, Chapter 25, as amended, authorizes that a local municipality may prohibit and regulate with respect to public nuisances, including matters that, in the opinion of Council, are or could become or cause public nuisances; and

 

WHEREAS section 425(1) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, Chapter 25, as amended, authorizes municipalities to pass by-laws provided that any person who contravenes a municipal bylaw passed under this Act be guilty of an offence; and

 

WHEREAS section 429(1) of the Municipal Act 2001, S.O. 2001, Chapter 25, as amended, provides that a municipality may establish a system of fines for offences under a bylaw passed under this Act; and

 

WHEREAS section 436(1) of the Municipal Act, S. O. 2001, Chapter 25, as amended, authorizes municipalities to pass by-laws and enter on land at any reasonable time for the purpose of carrying out an inspection to determine whether or not a municipal bylaw passed under this Act is being complied with; and

 

WHEREAS the City of Burlington is supportive of initiatives to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change and poor air quality;

 

NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the City of Burlington hereby enacts as follows:

 

1.0 SHORT TITLE:

 

This by-law may be cited as the “Idling Control Bylaw.”

 

2.0 DEFINITIONS:

 

“City” means the Corporation of the City of Burlington.

 

“Drive-through” means the uses of land, buildings or structures, or parts thereof, to provide or dispense products or services, either wholly or in part, through an attendant or a window or an automated machine, to persons remaining in motorized vehicles that are in a lane designated for that purpose.

 

“Emergency vehicle” includes an ambulance, fire department, police and any other vehicle being used to respond to an emergency.

 

“Highway” means a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct, or trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines thereof.

 

“Idling” means the parking or stopping of a vehicle, while the engine is running and is not being used to operate auxiliary equipment that is essential to the basic function of the vehicle.

 

“Layover” means a stopping point along a transit route used by transit vehicles or a scheduled delay at a transit vehicle terminal for a maximum of five minutes to allow transit vehicles to adjust to service schedules or to allow for embarking or disembarking of passengers.

 

“Mobile work” means

a)     a vehicle containing equipment that must be operated inside or in association with the vehicle; or

b)     a vehicle serving as a facility for taking measurements or making observations or conducting maintenance or construction.

 

“Municipal property” means real property owned by the Corporation of the City of Burlington.

 

“Officer” means any person authorized by the Corporation of the City of Burlington to enforce parking by-laws and shall include Parking Enforcement Officers, Provincial Offences Officers and Halton Regional Police Officers.

 

“Private property” means real property owned by persons, other than property owned by the Corporation of the City of Burlington and includes real property owned by individuals, local boards, corporations and public authorities.

 

“Transit vehicle” means public transit vehicles, tour buses, and motor coaches.

 

“Vehicle” means a motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor, or road building machine as defined in the Highway Traffic Act and any vehicle drawn, propelled, or driven by any kind of non-muscular power, but does not include cars of electric or diesel electric railways running exclusively upon rails.  Vehicle also includes a motorized snow vehicle or other conveyance that operates by way of a combustion engine.

 

3.0 APPLICATION

 

This by-law applies to:

 

a)     Private property;

b)     Municipal property;

c)     Highways forming part of the road system under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Burlington; and

d)     Highways forming part of the road system under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the Regional Municipality of Halton which are within the boundaries of the City of Burlington.

 

4.0 PROHIBITIONS

 

No person shall cause or permit a vehicle to idle for more than one minute (60 seconds) in the following areas:

 

a)     On a highway;

b)     On private property; and

c)     On municipal property.

 

5.0 EXEMPTIONS

 

The one minute (60 second) limit does not apply to the following situations, except where idling is substantially for the convenience of the operator of the vehicle:

 

a)     Emergency vehicles while engaged in operational activities, including training and patient transfer activities;

 

b)     A vehicle that is stationary because of an emergency, traffic conditions (including but not limited to traffic control signals) or  mechanical difficulties over which the driver has no control;

 

c)     A vehicle transporting a person who has in their possession a medical doctor’s certificate stating that for medical reasons, the person requires the temperature or humidity to be maintained within a certain range and the idling of the vehicle is necessary to achieve that temperature or humidity level;

 

d)     Mobile work vehicles while they are in the course of being used for their basic function;

 

e)     Vehicles where idling is required as part of the repair process or to prepare the vehicle for service;

 

f)      Transit vehicles while at a layover. When there are no passengers/operator on board, the engine will be turned off;

 

g)     Vehicles engaged in a parade or any other event authorized by the municipality; and

 

h)     Vehicles which are operated on the travelled portion of a drive-through lane.

 

6.0 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

 

6.1 This by-law can be administered and enforced by any police officer, municipal law enforcement officer or any other person authorized by the City of Burlington.

 

6.2 Any person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is, upon conviction, guilty of an offence and is liable to any penalty provided in the Provincial Offences Act.

 

6.3 The Court, in which a conviction has been entered, and any other court of competent jurisdiction thereafter, may make an order prohibiting the continuation or repetition of the offence by the person convicted and such order shall be in addition to any other penalty imposed on the person convicted.

 

6.4 An officer may, at any reasonable time, enter on land for the purpose of carrying out an inspection to determine compliance with this by-law.

 

6.5 If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any section or part of this by-law invalid or unenforceable the remainder of the bylaw shall continue to be in force.

 

7.0 REPEAL

 

7.1 Bylaw 71-2004 is hereby repealed on the date this by-law takes effect.

 

8.0 ENACTMENT

 

8.1 This bylaw shall come into force and take effect on June 1, 2009.

 

 

ENACTED AND PASSED this 14th day of April, 2009.

 

 

MAYOR: ____________________________________

 

 

CITY CLERK: ________________________________