With the arrival of high temperatures, it is common for drivers in the Canary Islands to use air conditioning in their vehicles. However, a common practice like leaving the engine running while the car is stopped and not needing to circulate can lead to financial penalties. The regulation, which aims to reduce pollution and noise, considers this action a minor infraction.

The financial penalty for keeping the engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary can range between 80 and 100 euros. These types of fines, although often dependent on municipal ordinances, can be imposed by the DGT, following guidelines already applied in other European countries.

Article 10 of the Law on Traffic, Circulation of Vehicles and Road Safety establishes the obligation not to impede traffic or cause unnecessary inconvenience or damage to the environment. Under this premise, authorities may interpret that the polluting emissions generated by an engine running unnecessarily constitute an infraction.

It is important to note that this rule does not apply in situations of traffic jams, traffic lights, or mandatory stops due to traffic flow. It also does not affect electric vehicles, which do not rely on a combustion engine for their climate control.