Colorado Clearing the Air with ‘Rolling Coal’ Ban
If you've ever been behind a diesel vehicle spewing nauseating thick black smoke, you may not know it, but that smoke has a name "rolling coal."
The Colorado Legislature has finally decided to put an end to these pollution machines by making them illegal. My only question is, what took them so long?
Rolling Coal is created when the owner of a diesel vehicle modifies the vehicle and exhaust system to release thick black exhaust.
Modifying a vehicle's exhaust system is already a federal crime, but those modifying a vehicle to be a coal roller do so just to be obnoxious - or to make them feel cool.
They intentionally create noxious fumes and smoke to release on pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists.
Colorado is only the second state in the US to make this practice illegal. New Jersey banned the practice in 2015. If a driver in that state gets ticketed, it's a $5,000 fine. In Colorado, the fine is a measly $100.
Still, it's a start at getting these coal rollers to put a plug in it and gives authorities more leverage to enforce federal emissions laws.
This is the second attempt by the State Legislature to pass Senate Bill 278. The first attempt was rejected because some lawmakers felt it might affect farmers, ranchers, and haulers who use diesel vehicles and equipment.
Now that it has passed, SB 278 only needs Governor John Hickenlooper's signature to become law.
Just in case you still don't understand what rolling coal is, why people do it, and why it needs to be illegal, the video should answer all of your questions.