Overview
- This week the RAC and multiple news outlets warned motorists that sitting in stationary cars with engines idling to power air conditioning risks prosecution under vehicle emissions rules.
- The standard penalty is a £40 fixed notice from police or an £80 civil penalty, and both are usually halved if paid promptly.
- Some local authorities use powers to charge more, with London boroughs such as Islington and Westminster issuing fines of up to £110 for drivers who refuse to switch off.
- Drivers can be fined even if they are not inside the vehicle, the offence targets emissions so it is unlikely to apply to electric cars, and operational enforcement varies between police and civil teams.
- The Welsh Government has confirmed it will raise the current £20 fine to a £75–£150 range from 30 September 2026 to reduce air and noise pollution and protect public health.