State law file · verified June 2026
Vermont idling law: the 5 minutes per hour rule
No person may run a stationary vehicle’s primary engine more than 5 minutes in any 60-minute period (23 V.S.A. §1110, effective May 2014), with exceptions for traffic, health and safety, emergency and armored vehicles, and work-related engine use.
Exceptions that actually matter
- Traffic conditions
- Occupant health or safety
- Emergency and armored vehicles
- Engine power needed for work-related operations
Penalties
The gentlest schedule we’ve verified anywhere: not more than $10 for a first violation, $50 for a second, and $100 for third and subsequent violations.
Who enforces it — and how to report
Police; Vermont DEC promotes the “Be Idle Free” program.
Persistent idling can be raised with local police or Vermont DEC; there is no citizen reward.
Can you get paid for reporting in Vermont?
No. Vermont has no citizen reward — complaints are civic, not paid. The only major program that pays complainants is New York City's idling bounty, where citizens keep 25% of collected fines and our enforcement data shows what that produces: hundreds of thousands of cases and an estimated eight-figure sum paid to filers. If a paid program launches in Vermont, this page will say so.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vermont’s idling law?
All vehicles are limited to 5 minutes of idling per 60-minute period under 23 V.S.A. §1110, with fines of up to $10, $50, and $100 for first, second, and subsequent violations.
Can you get paid to report idling in Vermont?
No — and with $10 first-offense fines, a 25% share would be 2 dollars 50 cents even if one existed. NYC is the only program that pays meaningfully.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following official sources on the date shown above. Laws change — verify before relying on specifics.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of June 2026.