Filed under: Diesel, Green Culture, USA



It's always a few bad apples who ruin polluting just for fun for the rest of us. That time-honored American tradition of being rude for laughs, otherwise known as 'rolling coal,' might become illegal in New Jersey, if a Nissan Leaf-driving politician gets his way.

The politician in question is State Assemblyman Tim Eustace (D-Bergen), who was purposefully hit by a blast of dark smoke recently while driving his Leaf on the New Jersey Turnpike, according to NJ.com. This personal experience of what he called "just youthful ignorance" is encouraging him to submit a bill (A3583), which, "Prohibits retrofitting diesel-powered vehicles to increase particulate emissions for the purpose of 'coal rolling'; prohibits the practice of 'coal rolling.'" If you're caught violating the law, you could be hit with a fine from the state Department of Environmental Protection. It is already illegal to modify an exhaust system in a way that allows coal rolling.

Rolling coal has become a bit of a meme recently, with videos of laughing truck drivers spewing their modified exhaust pipes at green cars, pedestrians and bikers around the country. Eustace told NJ.com that, "People had been telling this has been going on, but I hadn't seen it. I was surprised to experience it myself." Perhaps a coal roller in New Jersey will be surprised, too, when the first big fine hits.Angry Nissan Leaf Driver may make 'Rolling Coal' illegal in New Jersey originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



Permalink | Email this | Comments

More...

 

There may be sufficient grounds for an assault charge when this happens. At least people should get the license plate number and report this to the police. If people were face-to-face, this simply would not be tolerated.