Winter is a time when not only people and animals suffer from frost, but also our cars. Everyone has had the misfortune of not starting their car in the morning. Or that he was afraid to turn off the engine, so he stood by the side of the road for a few minutes with the car running, so to speak, to warm it up. Only there’s a state where this practice is banned.

Ignorance is no excuse. That goes for traffic laws, too. Of course, if you’re going abroad, it’s important to know the rules. Driving a car without knowing the rules can be very dangerous. It’s just that some of the laws are so nonsensical that we wouldn’t even think of thinking about them. Besides, the one that applies in North Carolina in America doesn’t even go to the locals’ heads.

Dawson’s Rule

Some people leave their car idling in the winter so that when they turn off the engine, they have no problem starting it again. Other people do it to keep the car warm. In North Carolina, this practice is called the Dawson Rule and is a Class 3 misdemeanor, which carries a hefty fine.

The law literally states that if a car idles, especially without the driver inside the car, in some places the driver can pay a hefty sum to the local traffic police. Specifically, there is a ban on this kind of car preheating on highways, at gas stations and parking lots. However, some private landowners have the right to require the driver to pay a fine if they are in breach.

━━ ( Source: Lance Chang /  Unsplash+ )

Improving air quality versus the absurd reason for the ban

One of the reasons the ban exists, according to local politicians, is to improve air quality. Whenever a driver is not in his car, he should turn off the engine. That would still make some sense, except that the main reason Dawson’s rule was put in place is supposedly to reduce the number of vehicle thefts.

Onslow County Sheriff Chris Thomas literally told the media, “Locking the car and securing it when the driver is out is absolutely important to us.” He added that car thefts are very frequent in the area and that is straining police capacity. Apparently, the rule doesn’t just apply to North Carolina, there are other US states where it applies. In New York, drivers are even encouraged to report anyone who violates the law.

So, when you want to travel to America this winter, remember that it’s a good idea to properly review the rules of the road there beforehand, but also look out for seemingly absurd details that could cost you a fortune.