A Vermont legislative committee wants to crack down on the idling of trucks which members say will reduce air pollution and health risks of diesel exhaust while saving businesses money.
The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee voted unanimously Tuesday in favor a bill that would restrict idling of vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds to five minutes.
But the trucking community is disappointed that the bill, which appeared headed toward limiting idling in all vehicles, focuses just on trucks.
About 44 states and municipalities have anti-idling laws for trucks but Vermont is the only New England state that does not. The state bans the idling of school buses on school grounds and Burlington has imposed its own limits on idling.