Senate Bill 5081, which would change the definition of an unattended running motor vehicle to exclude vehicles started by remote starter systems when locked and keyless, received prime sponsor testimony in the Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 27, 2025.

Committee staff summarized current law: running motor vehicles may not be left standing unattended and must be turned off with the ignition locked, keys removed and brakes set; violation is a traffic infraction with a $148 fine. Kelly Simpson, committee staff, explained the bill would exempt a vehicle remotely started and left standing from being considered unattended when the vehicle is locked and the keys are not in the vehicle; the bill would also exempt a vehicle on the owner’s property or the property of the person in charge of the vehicle.

Sen. Vicki Forchando, prime sponsor, said the measure updates state law to reflect common remote-start usage and that many other states have already adopted similar language. “This morning, I remote started my car, probably in violation of state law until this passes, to warm it up because it's cold outside,” Forchando said during her remarks.

There was no public testimony at the committee hearing for SB 5081, though some people signed in on both sides without appearing. Committee staff recorded that a small number of individuals had registered pro and con but did not testify. The committee did not take a vote on the bill at the hearing.

If enacted, the bill would remove a criminalizing mismatch between modern vehicle remote-start technology and the statute governing unattended running vehicles, and create a narrow exemption for vehicles on private property.