SMOKING VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT

 
   

What Is It?

North Carolina G.S. 20-128.1"Control of Visible Emissions" prohibits any gasoline-powered motor vehicle registered and operated in the State from emitting visible air contaminants under any mode of operation for longer than five consecutive seconds. This law allows police departments or air quality agents to enforce the regulation. There are also provisions in North Carolina for citizens to report smoking vehicles. Clearing the roads of smoking vehicles helps clear the air, which makes breathing a little easier for everyone.

Shared Impact and Benefits

  • NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) that form ozone come from both smoking and non-smoking vehicles, but smoking vehicles tend to emit more hydrocarbons and fine particles. All contribute to poor air quality, so cleaning up smoking vehicles makes a visible contribution to cleaner air.

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  • As citizens witness enforcement of smoking vehicles, the public associates this activity with overall efforts to clean up the air, and may be encouraged to act individually to improve air quality.

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  • This action contributes to a better quality of life in the region because well-tuned cars release fewer harmful pollutants that citizens must endure as smoking vehicles pass by.

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Costs

Assuming that salaried officers patrol 24 hours a day and seven days a week, no costs would need to be incurred in terms of additional personnel.

   
 

This Action Item can be implemented as a

POLICY
ORDINANCE
PROGRAM

 

How long does this take to implement?

The time to implement this action will vary by jurisdiction. Once a decision is made that local law enforcement officers will actively enforce the General Statute, implementation can be immediate.

   

  • The NC General Statute authorizing the enforcement of visible emissions has existed since 1971.
  • Smoking vehicles contribute many pollutants to the air?significantly more than well-tuned vehicles.
  • This action is particularly easy to implement because the law is already in place and police and/or air quality personnel already exist to enforce this law.