Photo: The News Wheel
When I saw that this week in Colorado was being called “Puffer Week,” you can imagine where my mind went. You might know the state is famous for a particular kind of smoke, but Puffer Week is actually about another source of exhaust — idling cars.
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I have a big question for the state of Colorado: Do you really call idling cars puffers, or is it a hot new term the police rolled out?
Colorado — like much of the United States — is deep in winter right now. That means you might be tempted to head out and start the car before you leave so it has time to warm up the cabin before you head out on the roads. While that’s a great idea for comfort’s sake, idling cars that don’t have a remote start is actually against the law in the Centennial State.
When talking to Makenzie O’Keefe of CBS Denver, Aurora Police Officer Michael Iovine says that leaving cars on and unattended isn’t illegal because the government wants you to freeze in your cars. Instead, it’s because these vehicles become targets of crime. Usually, you have to leave the car keys inside for it to stay running, either because your push-button start has a proximity sensor or because the key is actually in the ignition. That makes it easy for car thieves to slide in behind the wheel of your ride and take off.
Last year criminals got away with about 20,000 cars, and the police estimate it can take as little as 10 seconds to get away. I’m sure you would rather need a scarf and hat as you start your commute than be stranded without a vehicle at all.
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As of yesterday, police in Aurora had already talked to more than 100 puffers, issuing eight tickets and 77 warnings. Officer Iovine also clarified and said that cars with remote starts aren’t puffers and are totally legal since the vehicle’s keys are not in the cabin.
Be honest, are you a puffer? Consider the danger you’re putting your big automotive investment in before you leave your running car unattended.
A Dayton native, Rebecca got her start blogging at the curiously named Harlac’s Tongue while studying abroad in the UK. She loves tooling around town with her Ford Focus named Jerome to the song they’re playing on the radio. On any given weekend, you can find her with her camera at area festivals, concerts, and car shows, shopping at flea markets, or taking an adventure on the open road. See more articles by Rebecca.
