MOTOR VEHICLE IDLING.
Madison General Ordinances § 12.1291
in effect12.1291 - MOTOR VEHICLE IDLING.
(1) Violation. No person shall cause or permit the engine of any motor vehicle to operate in idle for longer than five (5) consecutive minutes while stopping, standing, or parking on any highway.
(2) Liability.
(a) The owner of any motor vehicle involved in a violation of Subsection (1) of this Section shall be solely liable for the violation, except as provided in Subdivision (2)(c) of this Section.
(b) It shall be no defense to a violation of Subsection (1) of this Section that the registered owner was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
(c) The driver of any City motor vehicle involved in violation of Subsection (1) of this Section shall be solely liable for the violation.
(3) Exceptions. The following periods of idling by any motor vehicle shall be exempted from sub. (1) of this Section:
(a) Idling as needed when the ambient temperature is below twenty degrees Fahrenheit (20°F) or above ninety degrees Fahrenheit (90°F);
(b) Idling as needed to operate defrosters, heaters, air conditioners, or other equipment, to prevent a health or safety emergency, including for the purpose of providing shelter;
(c) Idling as needed for testing, servicing, repairing, or diagnostic purposes;
(d) Idling as needed to operate auxiliary equipment for which the motor vehicle was designed, other than transporting goods, including, but not limited to, operating a transportation refrigeration unit, lift, crane, pump, drill, hoist, or ready mixed concrete mixer; and
(e) Idling as needed for traffic conditions over which the driver has no control, including, but not limited to, traffic congestion, an official traffic control device or signal, a railroad crossing while a train is passing or the crossbars are down, traffic controls in a construction zone, or at the direction of a law enforcement official.
(4) Enforcement. Sub. (1) of this Section shall be enforced by any police officer or parking enforcement officer.
(Cr. by ORD-17-00091, 9-13-17)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH11--19_CH12VECO_GERESTPA_12.1291MOVEIDFetched: 11/1/2026