An Ordinance to prohibit the idling of motor vehicles; provide exemptions from the prohibition; impose a fixed penalty for contravention of the prohibition; provide for recovery of the fixed penalty and provide for incidental and related matters.
[15 December 2011] L.N. 134 of 2011
(Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 1 of 2012)
(Format changes—E.R. 1 of 2012)
This Ordinance may be cited as the Motor Vehicle Idling (Fixed Penalty) Ordinance.
(Omitted as spent—E.R. 1 of 2012)
In this Ordinance—
Authority (當局) means a person specified in column 1 of Schedule 2; authorized officer (獲授權人員) means a person specified in column 2 of Schedule 2; complaint (申訴) means a complaint under Division 4 of Part 3; demand notice (繳款通知書) means a notice served under section 11(2); Director (署長) means the Director of Environmental Protection; driver (司機), in relation to a motor vehicle, means any person who is in charge of, or assisting in the control of, the vehicle; driving licence or permit (駕駛執照或許可證) means a driving licence, a domestic driving permit, a domestic driving licence or an international driving permit within the meaning of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374); fixed penalty (定額罰款) means the fixed penalty referred to in section 7; idling (引擎空轉) has the meaning given by section 4; internal combustion engine (內燃引擎) has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. A); judgment amount (判決款額) means an amount ordered by a magistrate to be paid by a person (other than a complainant) under this Ordinance, whether by way of fixed penalty, additional penalty or costs; motor vehicle (汽車) means any mechanically propelled vehicle that is constructed or adapted for use on a road; passenger (乘客), in relation to a motor vehicle, means a person carried in or on the vehicle other than the driver; penalty notice (罰款通知書) means a notice referred to in section 8; proof of identity (身分證明文件) has the same meaning as in section 17B of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115); road (道路) means—(a)a road within the meaning of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374); or(b)a private road within the meaning of that Ordinance.This Ordinance applies to all motor vehicles and drivers in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, including those of the Government and of the Offices set up by the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
For the purposes of this Ordinance, a motor vehicle is idling if any internal combustion engine forming part of, attached to or situated in or on the vehicle is operating while the vehicle is stationary.
The driver of a motor vehicle must not cause or permit the vehicle to be idling on a road for more than 3 minutes in any 60-minute period.
This section does not apply to—
a driver referred to in Schedule 1; or
a driver who is exempted, or is in a class of drivers that is exempted, under section 6.
The Director may exempt a driver or class of drivers from section 5 subject to any conditions the Director thinks fit, if the Director is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist that make it impractical or unreasonable for the driver or drivers of the class to comply with section 5.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the Director may determine a class of drivers in any manner the Director chooses, including a class determined by the type of motor vehicle or the type of activity in which the driver is engaging.
An exemption may apply generally or be limited to a particular area or a particular time or both.
If the Director exempts a driver, the Director must give the driver written notice of the exemption.
If the Director exempts a class of drivers, the Director must publish notice of the exemption in the Gazette.
A notice of exemption is not subsidiary legislation.
A person who contravenes section 5 does not commit an offence but is liable to pay a fixed penalty of $320 for the contravention.
The Legislative Council may, by resolution, amend the amount of the fixed penalty specified in subsection (1).
If an authorized officer has reason to believe that a person is contravening or has contravened section 5, the officer may give the person a notice in the prescribed form requiring him or her to pay the fixed penalty for the contravention.
The notice may be given to the person personally or by affixing it to the motor vehicle.
If an authorized officer has reason to believe that a person is contravening or has contravened section 5, the officer may, for the purpose of issuing or serving a summons or other document in relation to the contravention, require the person to—
supply his or her name, date of birth, address and contact telephone number (if any); and
produce for inspection his or her proof of identity and driving licence or permit (if any).
A person who is required under subsection (1)(b) to produce his or her driving licence or permit is to be regarded as having complied with the requirement if the person produces his or her electronic driving licence to the authorized officer. (Added 26 of 2025 s. 27)
For the purposes of subsection (1A), a person is to be regarded as having not produced his or her electronic driving licence if—
the licence is not displayed on an electronic device through an electronic platform specified under section 110A(1)(c) of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374);
the licence cannot be read or scanned by the authorized officer because of a defect of the electronic device on which the licence is purportedly displayed; or
the person fails to comply with a reasonable request by the authorized officer to facilitate the reading or scanning of the licence. (Added 26 of 2025 s. 27)
A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement made under subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 2.
In this section—
electronic driving licence (電子駕駛執照) has the meaning given by section 2 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374). (Added 26 of 2025 s. 27)A person who, in purported compliance with a requirement made under section 9(1), supplies any information that he or she knows is false or misleading commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 2.
This section applies if a person—
fails to pay the fixed penalty within 21 days after being given a penalty notice; or
refuses to accept a penalty notice intended to be given to him or her.
The Authority may serve on the person a notice in the prescribed form—
demanding payment of the fixed penalty;
informing the person that he or she must notify the Authority in writing if he or she wishes to dispute liability for the contravention to which the fixed penalty relates; and
stating that the payment or notification must be made within 10 days after the date of service of the notice.
A demand notice cannot be served later than—
if subsection (1)(a) applies, 6 months after the date on which the penalty notice was given; or
if subsection (1)(b) applies, 6 months after the date of the refusal.
A demand notice may be served by sending it by post to the person’s address.
A certificate of posting in the prescribed form purporting to be signed by or for the Authority is admissible in evidence in any proceedings under this Ordinance and, unless there is evidence to the contrary, it must be presumed that—
the certificate was signed by or for the Authority; and
the demand notice to which the certificate relates was duly served.
The Authority may withdraw a penalty notice or demand notice at any time—
before an order is made under section 13; or
before the issuing of a summons commencing proceedings under Division 4.
If a penalty notice or demand notice is withdrawn—
the Authority must serve notice of the withdrawal on the person to whom the penalty notice or demand notice applied; and
on application by the person, the Authority must refund, through the Director of Accounting Services, any amount paid in respect of the fixed penalty.
This section applies if a person on whom a demand notice has been served fails to pay the fixed penalty or notify the Authority in accordance with the notice.
On an application made in the name of the Secretary for Justice and production of the documents referred to in subsection (3), a magistrate must order the person to pay, within 14 days after the date of service of notice of the order—
the fixed penalty;
an additional penalty equal to the amount of the fixed penalty; and
$300 by way of costs.
The documents are—
a copy of the demand notice;
a certificate of posting the demand notice under section 11(5); and
a certificate under section 24.
The magistrate must cause notice of the order to be served on the person to whom it applies and it may be served by sending it by post to the person’s address.
An application under this section may be made in the absence of the person and the Secretary for Justice may appoint any person or class of persons to make it.
The Legislative Council may, by resolution, amend the amount specified in subsection (2)(c).
A person to whom an order made under section 13 applies may apply to a magistrate for review of the order.
An application must be made within 14 days after the date on which the order first came to the personal notice of the applicant.
The applicant must give reasonable notice of the application to the Authority.
An application may be made in person or by counsel or solicitor and the magistrate, for the purpose of securing the attendance of witnesses and generally for conducting the proceedings, has all the powers of a magistrate hearing a complaint under the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227).
On application under section 14, a magistrate may rescind an order made under section 13 if the magistrate is satisfied that the demand notice did not come to the personal notice of the applicant without any fault on the part of the applicant.
If the magistrate rescinds the order and the applicant wishes to dispute liability for the contravention to which the order relates, the magistrate must order that the matter be determined in accordance with Division 4.
If the magistrate rescinds the order and the applicant does not wish to dispute liability for the contravention, the magistrate—
must order the applicant to pay the fixed penalty within 10 days after the date of the order; and
must order that, if the applicant fails to pay the fixed penalty within that period, the applicant must immediately pay—
the fixed penalty;
an additional penalty equal to the amount of the fixed penalty; and
$300 by way of costs.
The Legislative Council may, by resolution, amend the amount specified in subsection (3)(b)(iii).
This section applies if—
a person who is given a penalty notice notifies the Authority in writing, before being served with a demand notice, that he or she wishes to dispute liability for the contravention to which the penalty notice relates;
a person on whom a demand notice is served notifies the Authority in accordance with the demand notice that he or she wishes to dispute liability for the contravention to which the demand notice relates; or
a magistrate makes an order under section 15(2).
If this section applies, the matter is to be determined in accordance with this Division by a magistrate in a summary way, on a complaint made in the name of the Secretary for Justice.
The Secretary for Justice may appoint any person or class of persons to make a complaint.
A complaint cannot be made later than—
if subsection (1)(a) or (b) applies, 6 months after the person notifies the Authority that he or she wishes to dispute liability; or
if subsection (1)(c) applies, 6 months after the date of the order under section 15(2).
A summons may be issued and served on the defendant in relation to a complaint in accordance with section 8 of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227).
If the defendant does not appear at the time and place appointed for the hearing of a complaint, or at any adjourned hearing, the magistrate may, subject to this section, proceed to hear and determine the complaint in the absence of the defendant.
The magistrate must not hear the complaint in the absence of the defendant unless—
service of the summons on the defendant is proved under section 8 of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227) and the magistrate is satisfied that it was served a reasonable time before the time appointed for the hearing; or
the defendant has appeared on a previous occasion to answer the complaint.
If the complaint is heard in the absence of the defendant, the substance of the complaint may be proved by production of—
a copy of the demand notice;
a certificate of posting the demand notice under section 11(5); and
a certificate under section 24.
If the complaint is heard in the absence of the defendant, the magistrate must send by post to the defendant’s address a copy of any order made in relation to the complaint.
The magistrate must hear and determine the complaint and, for that purpose, the magistrate has all the powers of a magistrate hearing a complaint under the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227), including—
the power to issue a summons for the appearance of witnesses; and
the power to adjourn the hearing.
If the defendant does not admit the truth of the complaint at the hearing, the defendant must state the nature of his or her defence and, if the defendant does not at that stage expressly put in issue any allegation of fact stated in a certificate under section 24 that has been produced by the complainant, the defendant cannot at any later stage dispute or adduce evidence to contradict that fact without the leave of the magistrate.
This section applies if—
a complaint is heard in the absence of the defendant; or
the defendant offers no defence to a complaint or a defence that is frivolous or vexatious.
If this section applies, the magistrate must order that the defendant pay a penalty equal to the amount of the fixed penalty, in addition to the fixed penalty and any costs ordered in the proceedings under section 21(2).
If a magistrate dismisses a complaint, the magistrate may at the same time make an order for the payment of costs by the complainant of not less than $600 or more than $1,500.
If, on a complaint, a magistrate orders the defendant to pay a fixed penalty (with or without an additional penalty), the magistrate may at the same time make an order for the payment of costs by the defendant of not less than $600 or more than $1,500.
The Legislative Council may, by resolution, amend an amount specified in subsection (1) or (2).
A complainant may discontinue the complaint at any stage before the magistrate has commenced to hear it, on giving written notice to the defendant and the magistrate.
Leave of the magistrate is not required for the complainant to do so.
A defendant who has been served with a summons in relation to a complaint may pay the following amounts in accordance with subsection (2)—
the fixed penalty;
an additional penalty equal to the amount of the fixed penalty; and
$500 by way of costs.
Payment must be made to a magistrate’s court not later than 2 clear working days before the day specified in the summons for the hearing of the complaint and the defendant must produce the summons when making the payment.
Payment in accordance with this section terminates the proceedings on the complaint.
The Legislative Council may, by resolution, amend the amount specified in subsection (1)(c).
In this section—
clear working days (整個工作天) excludes the day specified in the summons for the appearance of the defendant and intervening Saturdays and public holidays. (Amended 18 of 2016 s. 36)A certificate in the prescribed form stating the matters in subsection (2) and purporting to be signed by or for the Authority is admissible in evidence in any proceedings under this Ordinance.
The matters are—
that a specified motor vehicle was at a specified time idling at a specified location in contravention of section 5;
that a specified person was at a specified time the driver of a specified motor vehicle;
that a specified address was at a specified time the address of the specified person referred to in paragraph (b);
that payment of the fixed penalty for a contravention specified in a specified demand notice had not been made before a specified date; and
(if applicable) that the person specified in the demand notice referred to in paragraph (d) had not notified the Authority before a specified date of his or her wish to dispute liability for the contravention.
Unless there is evidence to the contrary—
it must be presumed that the certificate was signed by or for the Authority; and
the certificate is evidence of the facts stated in it.
If a person fails to pay any part of a judgment amount within one month after the date of the order to pay the amount, a magistrate, on an application made in the name of the Secretary for Justice, may order that the following amounts be levied on any goods of the person by distress and sale—
the judgment amount or, if the application under this section is in respect of more than one judgment amount, the total of those amounts; and
the costs of the application for an order under this section (being an amount not less than $50 or more than the amount of the fixed penalty).
An application under this section may be made in the absence of the person and the Secretary for Justice may appoint any person or class of persons to make it.
At any time, a magistrate may for good cause, on an application made by the Authority, rescind—
any order for the payment of a fixed penalty, an additional penalty or costs; and
any other order made under this Ordinance in the same proceedings.
The powers and functions of authorized officers under this Ordinance may be exercised or performed on all roads including private roads.
The powers and functions of traffic wardens and senior traffic wardens under this Ordinance are in addition to any powers and functions they have under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) or any other Ordinance.
The Authority or an authorized officer is not personally liable for anything done or omitted to be done by the Authority or officer in good faith in the exercise of a power or performance of a function or purported exercise of a power or purported performance of a function under this Ordinance.
The protection conferred by subsection (1) does not affect any liability of the Government for the act or omission.
A person who obstructs an authorized officer in the exercise of a power or performance of a function under this Ordinance commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 4 and to imprisonment for 6 months.
The Authority may, in writing, delegate any power or function of the Authority under this Ordinance (including this power of delegation) to a public officer.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology may make regulations— (Amended L.N. 144 of 2022)
prescribing any notice or certificate for the purposes of this Ordinance;
specifying how fixed penalties and other amounts payable under this Ordinance may be paid, the information to be supplied by persons paying them and the duties of persons receiving them;
providing for the erection or placement of traffic signs for the purposes of this Ordinance; and
providing generally for the better carrying out of this Ordinance.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology may, by notice published in the Gazette, amend Schedule 1 or 2.
(Amended L.N. 144 of 2022)
(Omitted as spent—E.R. 1 of 2012)
Section 5 does not apply to—
a driver of a motor vehicle that is stationary because of traffic conditions;
a driver of a motor vehicle who cannot prevent the vehicle from idling because of a mechanical difficulty over which the driver has no control; or
a driver of a motor vehicle while a person (other than the driver) is boarding or alighting from the vehicle.
Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a taxi that is at a taxi stand, or a driver of a fleet taxi that is at a fleet taxi stopping place. (34 of 2023 s. 46)
Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a green minibus at a green minibus stand if the minibus is the first or second minibus on a particular scheduled service at the stand.
Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a red minibus at a red minibus stand if—
the minibus is the first or second red minibus at the stand;
any passenger is on board; or
the minibus is immediately behind another red minibus at the stand that has any passenger on board.
Section 5 does not apply to a driver of either of the following vehicles that has any passenger on board—
a bus;
a school private light bus.
Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a franchised bus at any time when the bus is available for boarding by passengers.
In this section—
bus (巴士) has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374); fleet taxi (車隊的士) has the meaning given by regulation 2(1) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. D); (34 of 2023 s. 46) fleet taxi stopping place (車隊的士停車處), subject to subsection (7), has the meaning given by regulation 2(1) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. D); (34 of 2023 s. 46) franchised bus (專利巴士) means a bus in respect of which a franchise is in force under the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230); green minibus (綠色小巴) means a public light bus on a scheduled service; green minibus stand (綠色小巴站) means, subject to subsection (7), an area of road that is designated under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. D) as a stand for public light buses on a scheduled service only; public light bus (公共小巴) has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374); red minibus (紅色小巴) means a public light bus on a service other than a scheduled service; red minibus stand (紅色小巴站) means, subject to subsection (7), an area of road that is designated under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. D) as a stand for public light buses on a service other than a scheduled service; scheduled service (專綫服務) has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. D); school private light bus (學校私家小巴) has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374); taxi (的士) has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374); taxi stand (的士站) has, subject to subsection (7), the same meaning as in the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. D).For the purposes of this section, an area of road is not a taxi stand, fleet taxi stopping place, green minibus stand or red minibus stand at any time when a suspension is in force in relation to the area under regulation 32 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. D). (34 of 2023 s. 46)
Section 5 does not apply to—
a driver of a medical, emergency or law enforcement vehicle if idling the vehicle is necessary for conducting an operational activity (including a training activity) for or related to medical, emergency or law enforcement purposes; or
a driver of a motor vehicle who is assisting in an emergency or accident if idling the vehicle is necessary for that purpose.
In this section—
medical, emergency or law enforcement vehicle (醫療、緊急或執法車輛) means a motor vehicle used by any of the following bodies—(a)the Auxiliary Medical Service;(b)the Civil Aid Service;(c)the Correctional Services Department;(d)the Customs and Excise Department;(e)the Fire Services Department;(f)the Fish Marketing Organization;(g)the Government Flying Service;(h)the Hong Kong Police Force;(i)the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance;(j)the Hospital Authority;(k)the Immigration Department;(l)the Independent Commission Against Corruption.Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a motor vehicle for a specified body, or for or as a contractor of a specified body, if—
the vehicle is carrying any live animals; and
idling the vehicle is necessary for conducting an operational activity or protecting public health.
In this section—
contractor (承辦商) includes service provider; operational activity (運作活動)—(a)in relation to a specified department, means an activity conducted for the purpose of the operations of the department;(b)in relation to a specified licence or permit holder, means an activity conducted under the holder’s licence, permit or special permit; specified body (指明團體) means—(a)a specified department; or(b)a specified licence or permit holder; specified department (指明部門) means—(a)the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department;(b)the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department; or(c)the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; specified licence or permit holder (指明牌照或許可證的持有人) means the holder of a licence, permit or special permit granted or issued under any of the following provisions—(a)regulation 57A of the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations (Cap. 139 sub. leg. A);(b)regulation 5(1) of the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Animal Traders) Regulations (Cap. 139 sub. leg. B);(c)regulation 4(1) or 8(1) of the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Exhibitions) Regulations (Cap. 139 sub. leg. F);(d)regulation 5(1) of the Public Health (Animals) (Boarding Establishment) Regulations (Cap. 139 sub. leg. I);(e)regulation 5(1) of the Public Health (Animals) (Riding Establishment) Regulations (Cap. 139 sub. leg. J);(f)section 12 of the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421 sub. leg. A).Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a security transit vehicle if idling the vehicle is necessary for providing armoured transportation services.
In this section—
security transit vehicle (護衞押運車輛) means a motor vehicle operated by a licensee within the meaning of the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance (Cap. 460) for the provision of armoured transportation services.Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a motor vehicle of the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army if idling the vehicle is necessary for conducting an operational activity (including a training activity) of the Garrison.
Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a motor vehicle if—
the vehicle is lawfully designed primarily for a purpose other than the carriage of the driver, any passengers and their personal effects; and
idling the vehicle is necessary for a purpose for which the vehicle is primarily designed.
Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a motor vehicle if idling the vehicle is necessary for—
testing the vehicle in accordance with a requirement under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) or to determine whether the vehicle complies with the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) or the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400); or
carrying out on the vehicle any maintenance, repairs or other works that is or are necessary to enable the vehicle to be removed without undue delay.
Section 5 does not apply to a driver of a motor vehicle—
at any time when a rainstorm warning or very hot weather warning is in force; and
if the warning is in force for part of a day only, at any time after the warning has ceased to be in force until midnight on that day.
In this section—
rainstorm warning (暴雨警告) means a warning issued by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory by the use of the heavy rainstorm signal commonly referred to as Amber, Red or Black; very hot weather warning (酷熱天氣警告) means a warning issued by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory commonly referred to as a very hot weather warning.| Column 1 Authority | Column 2 Authorized officers |
| Director of Environmental Protection | Traffic Warden Senior Traffic Warden Environmental Protection Inspector Senior Environmental Protection Inspector Chief Environmental Protection Inspector |