Colorado vehicle idling and frozen lock precautions

Drivers in Grand Junction and throughout Colorado face specific challenges during winter months, including frozen car locks and legal restrictions on vehicle idling.

To address frozen locks, experts recommend using commercial de-icer sprays or warming the key itself rather than applying hot water, which can refreeze inside the mechanism or crack glass. Using a hair dryer from a distance is also a safe option, but drivers should avoid using lighters or torches to prevent damage to modern transponder keys.

Regarding vehicle operation, Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1206, commonly known as the puffer law, prohibits leaving a vehicle idling unattended for more than five minutes within a sixty-minute window. Violations can result in fines of $50 or more. While warming up a car is restricted, using a remote start system is permitted as long as the vehicle remains locked.