Exhausted? REPORT SMOKING VEHICLES!

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How often do you find yourself driving behind a smoking vehicle? You roll the windows up, close the vents, and can still smell the fumes! In an effort to alleviate this problem, the Broward County Environmental Protection Department (EPD) Air Quality Division created the Smoking Vehicle Program, a voluntary program for reporting smoking vehicles. One of the main goals of the program is to educate the general public about the effects of smoking vehicles and how we can all help resolve this problem.

Interesting facts about motor vehicles:

	Motor vehicles account for more than 50% of the air pollution in Broward County.
	There are about 1.8 million cars, trucks, buses and other registered motor vehicles in Broward County. That equals to more than one vehicle per resident.
	The average car generates over 600 pounds of air pollution per year.
	Ten percent (10%) of the vehicles cause about 50% of the total air pollution generated by motor vehicles

Smoking vehicles are bad for you:

	Smoke from vehicle exhaust is made up of tiny particles that can get lodged in your lungs.
	Recent studies have shown that these small particles are a major contributor to respiratory diseases such as asthma and emphysema. Smoking vehicles can also emit several pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer in humans.

Smoking vehicles are illegal:

Any car, bus or truck that generates smoke continuously from the exhaust pipe(s) for more than five seconds is in violation of the Broward County Code, Chapter 27, (Section 27-175(j)(1)) and the Florida Statute: Chapter 316.2935.

Smoking vehicles cost you money!

County Fines
The owner of a smoking vehicle can be cited by a Natural Resource Enforcement Officer from the EPD, and if the problem is not corrected within 30 days, fines of up to $200 may apply.

State Fines
Any law enforcement officer of the State of Florida can issue a traffic infraction to a smoking vehicle.

Out of Pocket
A smoking vehicle can burn up your money. It will use more oil and gasoline. The longer it goes without being repaired, the more damage may be done to the engine. That means higher repair costs for you in the long run.

What can you do if your vehicle is smoking?

	Visit the Air Quality Division web site at www.broward.org/smokingvehicle to see the common causes of vehicle engine smoke and try to identify the problem.
	Take the vehicle to a certified mechanic that is trained in the latest technology for emissions controls.
	Take the bus - Call Broward County Transit (BCT) at 954-357-8400.
	Share a ride with someone to school, work and social events.
	Call 1-800-234-RIDE to start a car pool.
	Take Tri-Rail - Call 1-800-TRI-RAIL.
	Bicycle, walk or skate whenever you can.

How to report smoking vehicles:

The Smoking Vehicle Program encourages the public to help identify smoking vehicles. Please call the Environmental Complaint Hotline at 954-519-1499, or fill out an online complaint form 24-hours a day by clicking here and visiting our web site. 



We don’t need your name, just the information listed below:

	the smoking vehicle’s Florida tag number
	the make, model and color of the vehicle
	the date and time the vehicle was seen
	location and city where you saw the vehicle (i.e. I-95 Northbound at Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale)