Is It Illegal To Warm Up Your Car in Illinois?

The cold weather has officially settled in throughout Illinois and the Midwest for the rest of the cold months. We've already seen snow on the ground the weather isn't warming up anytime soon. As painful as it is to get in a cold car every morning, you can't make the inside of your car nice and warm if you live on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities. It could get you in some big trouble.

I still brag about it because I can. The best decision I made when my wife and I moved to the Quad Cities was putting an automatic start in our better vehicle. Since having a child and having one on the way, it's the best thing for everyone when getting out the door in the morning.

When the weather is really cold or uncomfortably cold,  it's very tempting to go out and start your car with your keys to warm it up if you don't have an automatic start. We understand it's the worst getting into a cold car, but if you live in Illinois and don't have a remote start, warming up your car could get you into some serious trouble. For those on the Iowa side, it could get your car stolen.

Get our free mobile app

If you're already getting into the bad habit of warming up your car in Illinois, we want to remind you it's illegal to warm up your car using your key and leaving it unattended.

Back in 2017, Illinois lawmakers passed this law making it illegal for people to essentially 'warm up' their carsHow is that so?

According to the Illinois General Assembly:

(625 ILCS 5/11-1401) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1401)
    Sec. 11-1401. Unattended motor vehicles. Except for a law enforcement officer or an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle performing his or her official duties, no person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway. An unattended motor vehicle shall not include an unattended locked motor vehicle with the engine running after being started by a remote starter system.

Basically, you can't warm up your car or let it idle without someone in the driver's seat unless you are a police officer, an authorized emergency vehicle, or have an automatic start system installed in your vehicle.

Before March 16, 2017, Iowa had a similar law but was amended.

When it comes to getting caught warming up your car in Illinois, there isn't an exact dollar amount for a fine. Some articles we found said upwards of $100, some said $125, and others said $250.

But the most important reminder for everyone in the Quad Cities is that the ultimate fine anyone could face on either side of the Quad Cities when they leave their car unattended is theft.

Get our free mobile app

In 2020, because of the rising numbers of car thefts throughout the Quad Cities, over 20 law enforcement agencies, including the Illinois State Police, Iowa State Patrol, and the Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, and East Moline Police Departments have started the #LockItDownQC campaign.

According to the official Lock It Down QC website,

The mission of Lock It Down QC is to prevent auto theft in the Quad City Area. Lock It Down QC is a cooperative effort of Iowa and Illinois Quad City Area law enforcement agencies.

On the Lock It Down QC website, officials outline three key actions Quad City citizens can take to prevent car theft including:

1. Never leave your car running, even if you have your fob.
2. Always lock your car.
3. Never leave your keys in your car.

You can find more information and tips about #LockItDownQC here.

Trust me, it doesn't take long for a vehicle to be stolen. Two years ago, we wrote a story about how fast someone's car can be stolen out of their garage. Take a look for yourself below.