Is It Illegal In Texas To Let Your Vehicle Cool Down Before Getting In?

Summer is just around the corner in Texas and let's be honest, the temperatures have already been pretty hot and they will stay that way for a few months. When it is hot outside, we all know that means that inside our cars, trucks, and SUV's it's going to be really hot when we go outside to start them up.

Cooling down you car in Texas is something that seemingly everyone does. But did you know, it can be illegal?

Let's say you are at home and your car is in the drive way. It's about 97 outside which means the inside of your car is well over 100 degrees. Can you just walk outside, start the vehicle then come back in and wait? According to the Texas Transportation Code, the answer is no.

a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an operator may not leave a vehicle unattended without 

(1) stopping the engine;

(2) locking the ignition;

(3) removing the key from the ignition;

(4) setting the parking brake effectively; and

(5) if standing on a grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.

So no, you can't start your car and just walk away. BUT there is an exception to this.

If you have a remote start vehicle, feel free to cool you car down.

So why can't you just let your vehicle run and walk away? A big reason is theft. With keys being left in vehicles a criminal could just jump in and take off. That isn't the case with remote start vehicles.