Can I pull over and idle in a no parking zone and not get a ticket? Yes, but ...

Q: Can you idle while sitting in your car in a no parking zone, or will you get a ticket? — my newsroom colleagues

A: When I heard this question, the first thing I thought about is all the times I’ve spilled or dropped something while driving and had to pull over (safely, of course) to pick up or clean up whatever it is.

Or take a phone call.

Or shoo a flying insect out of my car.

Here’s the deal: It is, in fact, legal to pull over and park to take a phone call, eat a cheeseburger, freshen up your makeup, yell at your kids, whatever, even if you’re in a no parking zone (in front of a fire hydrant, in a loading zone, etc.)

“Clearly, we would prefer if people would get off the road in a safe manner to handle those sorts of issues, like dropping something on the ground in the car,” said Tacoma police spokeswoman Loretta Cool.

“If it’s safe to pull over, then pull over and take care of whatever it is — obviously clear traffic, and then continue, even if it’s by a fire hydrant or a no parking area.”

The idea is that you’re not actually parked, because you’re still there, sitting in your car, Cool said.

“Parking implies you’re going to leave the vehicle, which means we have no way of getting ahold of you to tell you to move your vehicle,” she said.

Here’s what is illegal: Leaving your idling car unattended.

This applies to warming up your car in the winter, Cool said.

RCW 46.61.600 states, “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 and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.”

While it obviously isn’t smart to leave your keys in the car and the engine running (you’re basically inviting someone to steal it), leaving your car unattended while idling also could create a dangerous situation if it slips or is knocked out of gear, perhaps by a pet or a child waiting in the car.

“Cars in idle, there is nothing to keep them in park,” Cool said. “If there is anything wrong with that transmission, if you just don’t quite hit park, then you’ve got a 2,000-pound vehicle freely going somewhere.

“We’ve had cars jump curbs and go into stores when they’re not being driven and they’re idling.”

So, it’s illegal to leave your car unattended with the engine on, even if you’re just running into the 7-Eleven real quick for a Big Gulp.

On a personal note, this is my last traffic Q&A as a staff writer for The News Tribune. I want to thank the readers of this column: I have become a more thoughtful and informed driver in the last year thanks to your traffic questions, and I will miss reading, reporting and answering them.

This story was originally published July 6, 2018 at 4:30 PM.