To the editor:

I would like to make Lawrence residents more aware of an issue in Lawrence that I feel is rather ridiculous.

Did you know that it is against the law to start your car and leave it running to warm up? “What?,” you may ask yourself. Yes, it is true. It is perfectly OK for a police officer to drive by your house in the morning, see your unoccupied running car in the driveway, and present you a ticket.

I understand where this law originated from, with cars being stolen and the police being forced to deal with the issue. But what about us freezing residents who just want to drive our warm cars to work in the morning without seeing our breath above the steering wheel?

Well, I think that the law should be changed. My view on the issue is that if you use a spare set of keys to lock your car after you start it, then it is should not be against the law to leave it warming up. Let’s face it: If someone stole your car when it was locked, it would be breaking and entering. Then the police would need to become involved. Otherwise, they should let residents warm up their cars as they please.

I just don’t understand why our law enforcement officers don’t have something more important they should be dealing with than warming cars.

Mallory West,

Lawrence