You know it's cold when every county in Wisconsin is under an Extreme Cold Warning. Wisconsinites aren't unfamiliar with the extreme cold or snow, but this Arctic Blast has been blowing wind chill temps well into the -30s across the entire state.

National Weather Service of Milwaukee
National Weather Service of Milwaukee
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The cold will eventually end, and by tomorrow, highs will be back into the 30s, with a chance of snow.

While I'm sure you also dread getting into your freezing car just like me, I want to remind you that you could face a serious fine for warming up your vehicle in Wisconsin. It's not a statewide law like it is in Illinois, but two major Wisconsin cities and a couple of smaller ones have ordinances against letting your car warm up.

Whether you live in these Wisconsin cities where it's against the law to warm up your car or not, everyone should know that the biggest punishment any of us could receive for warming up our cars is theft.

Get Remote Start If You Want A Warm Car

I know it's easier said than done, but in certain Wisconsin cities, it's the only way to warm up your vehicle without breaking the law.

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As someone who has an automatic start and has experienced some cold Wisconsin weather, it's definitely a huge help. It also helps keep the kids' complaints down.

Having an automatic starter in your vehicle is also the only way not to break the law in certain Wisconsin cities. If you do the "old school way" of warming up your car in Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, La Crosse, or Chippewa Falls, you could get in serious trouble with the police.

Wisconsin Cities Make It Illegal To Warm Up Your Car

It might sound ridiculous, but it's smarter than you think. At least five Wisconsin cities, including the capital, have an ordinance against warming up your car.

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The EPA has a full list of states and cities within states with ordinances against letting vehicles idle. Of course, helping the environment is part of why cities have these ordinances but the main reason is to cut down on thefts.

The five cities in Wisconsin that we know have an ordinance preventing you from letting your vehicle idle unattended or leaving your keys in the ignition while the car is started and unlocked include:

  • Madison
  • Milwaukee
  • Eau Claire
  • Chippewa Falls
  • La Crosse

Illinois has a statewide law essentially banning residents from warming up their vehicles. Iowa had a similar law but was amended in March 2017.

Fines For Warming Up Your Car In Wisconsin

If you get caught warming up your vehicle by police in certain Wisconsin cities, you could get a fine even if your car is stolen.

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In Madison, your first fine could range from $50 to $200.

Since 1972, it's been illegal in Eau Claire for you to warm up your car unattended. If caught, you could face a fine of $213.

Police in La Crosse have issued tickets for people warming up their vehicles. A ticket there is $114.

But the biggest "fine" that any of us could receive if you warm up our vehicles with the keys in the car and the vehicle unattended is theft. And that goes for everyone in Wisconsin and everywhere else.

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