KCPD: Unattended, running cars illegal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - When the temperature dips as low as it's been lately, warming up your car and walking off may be tempting. But in Kansas City, Mo., it's also illegal.

Police said it all comes down to manpower. They don't want to waste any by looking for another stolen car.

In a YouTube video , Sgt. Dan Graves said in 2010, around 40 empty and running cars were ripped off in the Shoal Creek Patrol Division alone. That adds up, and it's why violators could face a fine.

"The long story short of it: it's an officer discretion thing, but with one out of five cars being stolen (while) the car's running, they're going to do some enforcement," Graves said.

The ordinance reads: "No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the street or highway."

The ordinance does not mention remote starters, but according the Kansas City Police's official Twitter account, the ordinance still applies in those situations.