Read our Privacy noticeWith freezing winter weather blanketing much of the U.S., it may be tempting for commuters to warm up the car by idling it for a few minutes before getting in. Idling, or “puffing,” is the practice of leaving your car running, unlocked, and unattended while it warms up, with the term coming from the puffs of steam that come out of the exhaust pipe. Ohio gives drivers zero minutes of idle time, while Hawaii has a blanket ban on leaving vehicles at a standstill with the engine running. Penalties for idling can range from warnings and fines of around $10 for first-time offenders up to several hundred dollars for repeat idlers. Most states allow a vehicle to idle due to “traffic conditions,” government inspections or if they belong to emergency services or maintenance workers.