Draft Bluff ordinance would limit commercial‑vehicle idling to two minutes; public questions enforcement and exemptions

Summary

A proposed ordinance would ban commercial vehicles from idling more than two consecutive minutes with several exemptions and a $500 penalty; public commenters questioned why the draft excludes noncommercial vehicles, suggested a longer practical timeout, and raised enforcement concerns if the mayor is named as the enforcement entity.

The Bluff draft ordinance presented Oct. 28 would prohibit commercial vehicles from idling more than two consecutive minutes inside town limits, with exemptions for traffic congestion, traffic signals, emergency vehicles and certain maintenance or inspection needs.

Erin Nelson explained the two‑minute threshold was drawn from ordinances in other jurisdictions and that enforcement is currently listed as a mayoral responsibility in the draft; the ordinance proposes a $500 penalty. "The 2 consecutive minutes came from other similar ordinances found in other areas," Nelson said.

Public commenters questioned limiting the prohibition to commercial vehicles and recommended a longer prescriptive timeout (one commenter suggested five minutes) to allow for short, legitimate uses such as stopping to make a phone call. Commenters also suggested the town focus on public education and signage before heavy enforcement. The council did not adopt the ordinance at the hearing and asked for written input and further legal review.