Anti-Idling Bill Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. SB 6304, sponsored by Senator Marko Liias, contains language that would prohibit idling refrigerated trucks carrying fresh produce for more than five minutes.
Washington State Tree Fruit Association President, Jon DeVaney says that would mean more than jeopardizing perishable fruit …
DeVANEY … “We now have heat rules in our state and one of the means of ensuring that you have a cooldown location for workers on those hot days is in idling vehicles, with air conditioning running. And so, there’s concerns about what the effects may be there as well.”
DeVaney says more thought was needed …
DeVANEY … “We think that this is really just moving forward too quickly on some of these ideas, and we are asking the legislature to slow down and reconsider.”
DeVaney says the intent is obvious, but it’s not practical for agriculture …
DeVANEY … “I think that often the one goal that they have in mind causes them to rush forward with proposals that maybe they have not considered all the secondary effects of that and other ramifications that might not be intended but could have severe consequences in other areas, and maybe even, you know, consequences worse than the benefits they’re getting with what they’re proposing.”
DeVaney urges all WSTFA members to contact their Senator and ask them to remove the anti-idling provision in SSB 6304 and instead work collaboratively with industry stakeholders to find middle ground.
