Is It Really Illegal to Leave Your Car Warming Up in Texas?

Central Texas is starting to see some cold temperatures, and you may be tempted to warm your car up in the mornings. However, you should think twice about how you warm up your vehicle in the driveway this winter, as it may get you a ticket.

Yes, You Could Get a Ticket for Leaving Your Car Warming in the Driveway

Believe it or not, warming up your vehicle unattended is illegal in the state of Texas and could result in a citation. It's true! Technically, it's against the law to leave your car warming up in your driveaway if you don't meet a very specific requirement.

Check the Code

According to the Texas Transportation Code, it's illegal to leave a car unattended without stopping the engine, locking the ignition, and removing the key from the ignition. That means a cop passing by could actually write you a ticket if your car's heating up in the driveway and you're not in it.

However, you can leave your vehicle on and unattended if you have a remote starter.

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If You Leave It, Someone Might Thieve It

The point of the law is to prevent car thefts, and while the odds of you actually being cited for leaving your car idling are low, it's still a good idea to keep an eye on your car at all times if you're going to leave it running to warm up. Thieves watch for signs of unattended cars with the keys in the ignition, and next thing you know your stuff's missing or you're without a car.

Texas Ranks High in Auto Thefts

Texas consistently ranks in the top three states, along with California and Florida, for motor vehicle thefts. According to the Texas DMV, over 65,000 cars and trucks are stolen and almost 200,000 are burglarized each year. A major factor is keys being left inside and/or doors being left unlocked.

Texas Thieves Love Trucks

Here in Texas, full-size trucks are the top target for thieves. Chevy, Ford, GMC and Dodge rank 1-4 for most stolen vehicles.

Consider An Upgrade

The solution is simple: get a remote starter for your vehicle and keep your doors locked.

Lock it or lose it!

Texas Crime Statistics By City

Check to see how crime compares in your city versus elsewhere.

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5 Sweet Bakeries To Check Out In Killeen, Texas

We all get a sweet tooth every now and then right?

But what do we do when it happens?

Do you go to the kitchen and bake a cake? Maybe hook up some cupcakes?

Cookies? perhaps?

Or do you visit the grocery store or your favorite bakery?

If your choice is to visit your favorite bakery I got a few bakeries that caught my eye that you may want to check out here in the Killeen area, if there's one or two we didn't mention that you go to, by all means, let us know!

In the meantime check out these 5 bakeries in Killeen:

Filed Under: Texas, winter weather

Categories: News, Weather