In North Dakota Can You Legally Warm Up Your Vehicle Unattended?

This has to be one of the coldest stretches of weather we have had in the last decade across North Dakota.

You can only imagine how cold we would be if we had a typical 20-inch snowpack on the ground. Instead, most of the state has 10 inches or significantly less. The more snow on the ground, the more the sun's rays reflect and we lose its daytime heating.

Basically, the snow bounces most of the sun's rays right back into space instead of absorbing them, preventing us from heating up (I'm kind of a weather nerd).

I don't know about you, but I witness people leaving their vehicles running and going into convenience stores or other businesses all the time in this cold.

I had some friends at a Super Bowl party arguing Sunday about whether it's legal to warm up your vehicle unattended. 

Since I'm friends with several law enforcement officers in the Capital Region, I figured I would ask and find out.

I didn't think there would be such a law in North Dakota, but our state does have some head-scratching laws.  Did you know it's illegal to fall asleep with your shoes or boots on here in North Dakota?

(SEE ALSO: 5 Head Scratching Laws In North Dakota. You can read about those here.)

After a little investigative reporting, and some help from Law Enforcement, the North Dakota Century Code "Rules of the Road 39-10-51.  "No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle may permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, effectively setting the brake thereon, and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway."  

Sounds like it's unlawful to me, but what about car starters? 

A member of the Lincoln Police Department told me he believes it was created in the '50s.  That's well before remote car starters and remote apps.

However, he says people still do get ticketed for this law. It's mainly when people leave their running vehicles unattended and they get stolen.  That's why it was created.

Otherwise, you would see car insurance rates skyrocketing. Wait a minute, I think that ship has sailed.

Starting your vehicle with a car starter, you're more than likely going to be left alone by law enforcement officials.

It's certainly a law that needs to be amended with today's technology.

In the meantime, get used to the cold weather. February looks to remain on the frigid side.