A car question About This Page:

[loobyoxlip]

I just asked a Northwest agent for the keys to their car so we could move it to jumpstart someone else's car.

Answer: Oh, they're in the ignition. Just move it.

LOL. Life in a small town. Do you ever keep the keys in your car? What about keeping your car running while your run into a store?

I am the worst about leaving the car running - I do it all the time...when I run into the shoppette, when I pick the kids up from daycare, running into the gas staion. You name it, if it's a quick stop and it's cold out, my car is running. And in the summer, I usually leave the keys in the ignition when I run into places like this.

[Colexis Mom]

I never keep the keys in the ignition, and never keep the car running (unless it is in the garage when I'm warming it up for the morning drive).

[SarahJ]

The only time we leave the car running is at our house when we're warming it up. We live way off the road on five acres, so no one is going to try to take it. The only time we leave a vehicle running with no one in it someplace other than at home is if one of us has to drive our 1973 Bronco when dropping DD off at daycare. If we don't leave it running its a pain to start up again.

We have had a couple of instances in our state where cars that have been left running have been stolen. Most recently a woman had left her 3 year old in the car while it running to go get her baby in the house and someone stole the car. Fortunately the theif dropped this kid, still in his car seat, in an alley behind the house a little while later. In Seattle you can actually get ticketed for leaving a vehicle running with no one in it, even if its in your driveway.

[Janet 46]

NEVER! There are quite a lot of stolen cars in the NY/NJ metro area, so that's a huge no-no.

[reinstructor]

In Texas it's a violation of the law to leave the car running with no one in it or to leave the keys in the ignition.

[DVC_Don]

Back when I was still "on the job" and walking a beat, I would take the keys out the bring them to the station. When the owners came for them, they got the law read to them.



When I worked insurance claims a while back this happened. One of our clients left her car running while returning a VHS tape. She parked right out front. Next door was a liquor store that was being held up. The robbers, armed with sawed off shotguns, ran out and decided to take the car out front that was running rather than run around the back of the store for their hidden stolen car. They took off south and passed a responding patrol car. The patrol turned around and went after them. The robbers then passed in a no passing zone and hit an oncoming car killing the young mother driving. The robbers were caught. Our client, who left the car running, was sued by the family of the dead mother. The family was awarded more than the policy limits were, so she was, and still is on the hook for the balance of the judgement. The phrase, [ QUOTE ]
"We never thought it could happen around here"

[/ QUOTE ] was heard.

[loobyoxlip]

Oh my gosh. I never knew that was against the law in so many places. Y'know who are the biggest violators of this around here? The police themselves. They don't like to get into a cold car, so when they come to visit at the airport, or anywhere, they leave the car running. Sometimes for 1/2 or more!!

[DVC_Don]

[ QUOTE ]
... Y'know who are the biggest violators of this around here? The police themselves. They don't like to get into a cold car, so when they come to visit at the airport, or anywhere, they leave the car running. Sometimes for 1/2 or more!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ha! Gotta tell you this one. Just Tuesday (12/2) a woman in her 40's plead guilty to attempting to steal the police chiefs unmarked car from the Mechanicville NY Police Dept's parking area. Seems the chief left the car unlocked with the keys in it. The woman, who had no license due to a DWI conviction, said she just wanted to borrow it to run some errands. Police officers in the station heard the car start, ran out and pulled her from the car before she could drive off.

[DISNEYGOOF]

No, from what I understand here in Texas its against
the law. The police had a bunch of commercials trying
to get the point across. This is off subject but we
have alot of problems in the summer (100 degree days)
with people leaving/forgetting kids in the car with
many dying. It is really heartbreaking thinking about.

[luvnwdwgal]

I live in a small town too, but I never leave the keys in the ignition or leave the car running while I go inside someplace. That's just asking for something to happen.

[AKLRULZ]

Good Lord! No, to all questions.

[joyjoy]

Those PSAs (in Texas) must have worked on me. I would NEVER.

[chezp]

I never leave the keys in the car or the engine running, not even to run into the house quickly - I'm paranoid someone will steal my lovely car.

[TiggGrrrl]

<font color="green"> Never, not even for a second. Even when I pull the van out of the driveway then have to get out to close and lock the gate, I take the keys out and lock the doors - especially since Shane is usually in his carseat when I'm doing this.</font>

[goofy4goofy]

Only in my driveway to warm it up in the winter. I live in the country so I don't think that's a big deal.

Kelly