On Wednesday, the New York City Council passed a bill making it illegal to idle outside a school for more than a minute. In an effort to cut pollution and ease the asthma epidemic (a major public health issue for the city's school-aged children), the fine for violating this measure would be $100.

Previously, idling outside of schools and elsewhere was limited to three minutes, mostly enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection and applied to diesel-powered commercial vehicles instead of passenger cars. Council members noted that even though this law and other anti-idling regulations have been in effect for years, enforcement has been inconsistent and lax.

The new rule reduces the amount of idling time permitted in a school zone to one minute and includes a companion measure that provides the NYPD, the Parks Department, the Sanitation Department and the Department of Environmental Protection with the explicit authority to impose fines. Mayor Bloomberg plans to sign both bills, which will take effect after 90 days.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn noted that the bill simply requires parents to turn their engines off while waiting for their children. In addition, citywide anti-idling laws will likely be enforced to a greater degree as a result of these measures.