Is there a way to lock my doors and leave the Prius running?

So I guess it simply is not possible on a 2007? (There is no 'key.')

 

the key is in your fob. slide the button on top and pull on the key ring. that's how you get in if the battery dies. it's in the o/m.

 

I understand your angst. I got a "moving" violation for doing that on a cold day, one winter. The public safety issue laws for most cars of theft, fires and unintended shifts into drive, override your desires for perfect air conditioning at all times.

 

omg - you're right!!!

Thanks!!

 

Ummmm. . .no they don't!

 

Said the man who didn't know his own car had a key.

 

Yeah, well. . .I'm NEW HERE. . .

. . and I just went out and turned on my car and locked it while it was in 'Ready' mode. . .AND I'm a lawyer. . .

 

They are not really public safety laws, so much as protect stupid people from themselves laws.

My observation is that the more you wrap stupid people up in cotton wool, the stupider they get. It is better to focus on education to make people smarter, even though that is harder and can be more frustrating, as the long term outcome is better for all.

I agree.

 

Said the New Jersey lawyer who doesn't know he can get a ticket for leaving a car unattended with engine running!

Traffic Offenses Fines & Points
Fines for traffic violations in New Jersey
The Municipal Courts of New Jersey website lists the moving and non-moving traffic violations that are ticketable:
Statute # Offense Fine
39:4-53 Leaving vehicle with engine running $54

 

Asked and answered. Do I need to have the court reporter read back your previous response?:

-kenoarto, "I understand your angst. I got a "moving" violation for doing that on a cold day, one winter. The public safety issue laws for most cars of theft, fires and unintended shifts into drive, override your desires for perfect air conditioning at all times."

-New Jersey Lawyer, "Ummmm. . .no they don't!"

 

"Ummmm. . .no they don't!" was meant in the vernacular sense. As if to say, "I say they don't, no matter what the LAW says. . ."

 

When I leave the car "on", manually lock the door, and conduct my business the engine doesn't run so 39:4-53 is not violated. To attract police attention it must have happened at the donut shop.

 

Hahahahahahaha. . . .

 

don't forget to turn your car off in the garage at night, you might have to sue yourself for co poisoning.

 

Dead men can't sue. . .and I don't HAVE a garage. . . .

 

One of the things that really bothers me about this forum is both the freakin' nerdy/eggheaded responses and the judgmental responses. Jesus. Answer the question and MOVE ON. There are plenty of reasons why someone would want to do this, and they don't have to make sense to YOU or be approved by YOU.

To answer your question, what I do is make sure I have my mechanical key, have the drivers window rolled down, get out, close the door, reach in and lock the door via the button, and then set the window to automatically close by pulling on the window button.

 

it helps to have a sense of humour.

 

Thanks to this thread I went out and got a spare mechanical key that I keep on my separate keychain for house keys. This has been the greatest thing for my quick errands where I want to keep the car in ready instead of powering down for each stop. Brilliant!

 

My car is not garaged and I am bright enough or aware enough to know when it is powered up. I do believe that it has been parked & left on by the valet at the Holiday Inn Midtown once or twice as the traction battery didn't have the same charge at the end of the day. Crawling through NYC with a low SOC is most annoying.

I wouldn't bother with a spare key, just use the one in the fob.