File this under “laws that make you wonder if anyone in government has ever lived in the real world.”
It’s Colorado. In winter. Temperatures drop below freezing regularly. And the state has decided that warming up your car before you drive it is a crime.
Not a suggestion. Not a safety recommendation. A crime. With fines.
Welcome to America in 2025, where the government will ticket you for not wanting to scrape ice off your windshield with numb fingers.
“Puffing” Is Now a Criminal Act
Westminster, Colorado police issued a reminder this week that leaving your car running unattended — a practice they’ve dubbed “puffing” — violates state law.
The Colorado “unattended motor vehicle” statute requires drivers to stop the engine and remove the key before leaving a vehicle. First offense? $60 fine. And police aren’t shy about enforcement — they’ve run dedicated “Puffer Week” campaigns where deputies hand out warnings and citations to people guilty of… checks notes… not wanting to sit in a freezing car.
“Puffing is also ILLEGAL in Colorado,” the Westminster Police Department wrote, adding helpfully, “Just don’t do it.”
Just don’t warm up your car in winter. Simple. Why didn’t anyone think of that before?
The “Logic” Behind the Law
The official justification is theft prevention. Police argue that idling cars are “easy targets” for thieves who can simply hop in and drive away.
And sure, that’s technically true. An unlocked, running car is easier to steal than a locked, stationary one. This is not groundbreaking criminal analysis.
But here’s the thing: that’s your risk to take. It’s your car. Your property. Your decision about how much risk you’re comfortable with in your own driveway.
If someone steals your car, you’re the victim. You suffer the consequences. The thief committed the crime — not you for having the audacity to want a warm vehicle.
But Colorado decided that instead of focusing resources on catching car thieves, they’d rather fine the victims for making theft too easy.
Punish the law-abiding citizen. Ignore the actual criminal. Peak government logic.
The Remote Start Exception
There’s a carve-out in the law for remote starter systems — but only if you keep the keyless fob far enough away that the car “can’t be moved.”
So if you spent $300 on an aftermarket remote start system and you stand inside your house while your car warms up, you’re fine. But if you walk outside, start your car with the key, and step back inside for five minutes while the ice melts? Criminal.
The distinction has nothing to do with actual theft risk. A thief can steal a remote-started car just as easily if they break a window. The law just creates a two-tier system where people who can afford fancy technology get a pass and everyone else gets fined.
Rules for thee, exceptions for those with better car accessories.
The Bigger Picture
This is what happens when government stops distinguishing between protecting people and controlling them.
A reasonable public safety campaign would say: “Hey, leaving your car running unattended increases theft risk. Here are some tips to stay safe.” Useful information. Your choice what to do with it.
Instead, Colorado made it illegal. They took a personal risk decision and turned it into a finable offense. Because apparently adults can’t be trusted to weigh the tradeoff between convenience and security without the state stepping in.
This is the same mentality that gives us seatbelt checkpoints, soda taxes, and bans on plastic straws. Government knows best. You’re too stupid to make your own choices. Pay your fine and be grateful they’re protecting you from yourself.
Real Priorities
Meanwhile, actual car theft in Colorado has skyrocketed. The state consistently ranks among the worst in the nation for vehicle theft. Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs are all hotspots.
So what’s the government response? Crack down on the thieves? Increase penalties for auto theft? Dedicate more resources to recovery operations?
Nope. Fine the people who warm up their cars.
It’s so much easier to ticket a middle-aged dad in his driveway than to actually solve crime. The dad will pay the fine and grumble about it. The car thief requires real police work.
Guess which one Colorado prioritizes.
A Metaphor for Everything
This dumb little law perfectly captures everything wrong with modern governance.
A real problem exists: car theft. Instead of addressing it directly, government creates a rule that punishes ordinary citizens for behavior that harms no one. The actual criminals continue operating. The bureaucracy congratulates itself on “doing something.” Regular people get nickeled and dimed while the underlying issue gets worse.
Rinse and repeat for virtually every policy area.
Can’t stop illegal immigration? Fine employers who hire Americans without proper paperwork.
Can’t balance the budget? Raise taxes on people who actually pay them.
Can’t reduce car theft? Ticket the victims for making it too easy.
It’s not about solving problems. It’s about the appearance of action. And if that action happens to generate revenue through fines while annoying law-abiding citizens, well, that’s just a bonus.
The Bottom Line
If you live in Colorado and you’re tired of scraping ice off your windshield with frozen fingers, congratulations — your government has decided that’s preferable to a $60 fine.
Don’t warm up your car. Don’t make rational decisions about your own property. Don’t expect the state to focus on actual criminals when they could be hassling you instead.
Just bundle up, get in your freezing vehicle, and remember: this is for your own good.
The nanny state knows best.