If you are waiting in your car for less than 5 minutes for passengers, what is this considered?

When waiting in your car for less than 5 minutes for passengers, this is considered "idling." Idling refers to keeping the engine running while the vehicle is stationary, which is often the case when you are waiting for someone.

While parking involves leaving your vehicle in a designated area, idling does not necessarily require you to be in a designated parking space, and it often occurs when the driver remains inside the vehicle. In this scenario, since you are waiting for passengers and may be ready to drive off shortly, this aligns better with the concept of idling rather than parking.

In the context of traffic laws, parking generally implies a longer duration where the vehicle is not actively being used, often involving exiting the vehicle and leaving it unattended. Therefore, when waiting for a short period, as specified in the question, it is best classified as idling rather than parking.