Is it Illegal to Leave Your Car Unattended While Warming Up in Kentucky?

While we have had some pretty cold mornings so far this Winter, I know the worst is yet to come as we start another year. Walking out of my warm house to shocking temperatures in the 20s and teens feels like a smack in the face.

It's especially awful when there is a coating of ice covering everything too. If you are like me and don't have a garage to keep your vehicle in, the only way to quickly melt everything and prevent a freezing ride is to start the car and wait for it to heat up. But I don't want to have to sit out in the cold while that happens!

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Unless I am in a huge hurry, you better believe I start my van AKA the Party Barge and head back on inside until it has defrosted. In the past when my sweet husband Michael went to work before me, he would sometimes turn my car on so it would be ready when Rollins and I left to take him to school.

It is Illegal to Leave Your Vehicle Unattended While Running

Come to find out, we have both broken the law by leaving our vehicles running and unattended while warming up in the driveway. According to state law KRS 189.430, “No person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, and removing the key.” Authorities say this law is to prevent vehicle thefts. If someone wanted to steal your car, they would just need to wait until you turned it on and walked away.

Is it Bad For Your Vehicle to Leave it Idling?

Here is a YouTube video that explains the pros/cons of idling your vehicle to warm up versus letting it warm up as you drive.

Do you leave your vehicle running unattended to warm up in the winter? I don't think police officers are patrolling to catch folks who have made this their morning routine, but it's good to know.