A foreign-registered pick-up was caught emitting smoke of opacity exceeding 70 HSU and was turned back to Malaysia (Source : NEA).

25 errant motorists booked for smoky vehicle and idling engine offences

Neyla Zannia 2016-11-04 Current Affairs

25 errant motorists were booked for smoky vehicle and idling engine offences at areas around Woodlands / Marsiling and Telok Blangah / Bukit Merah during National Environment Agency (NEA)’s enforcement operations.on Thursday (3 November).

Breakdown of offences from operations conducted on 3 November 2016 (Source : NEA).
Breakdown of offences from operations conducted on 3 November 2016 (Source : NEA).

NEA regularly conducts enforcement operations against motorists with smoky vehicles and idling engines to reduce vehicular emissions.

A NEA officer issuing a Notice to the driver of a smoky foreign-registered vehicle (Source : NEA).
A NEA officer issuing a Notice to the driver of a smoky foreign-registered vehicle (Source : NEA).
NEA conducting smoke emission tests on vehicles that were stopped for emitting smoke (Source : NEA).
NEA conducting smoke emission tests on vehicles that were stopped for emitting smoke (Source : NEA).

Apart from booking errant vehicles, NEA enforcement officers also distributed educational pamphlets to motorists as part of ongoing outreach efforts to promote awareness and compliance through education.

Motorists were handed an educational brochure on the importance of turning off vehicle engines when stationary (Source : NEA).
Motorists were handed an educational brochure on the importance of turning off vehicle engines when stationary (Source : NEA).

Under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations, it is an offence for any vehicle to emit smoke while in use on the road. Commercial diesel vehicles, including buses and taxis, must undergo mandatory periodic smoke inspections at authorised inspection centres. Owners of smoky vehicles will be offered a tiered composition sum based on vehicle type and number of offences committed. If they fail to pay the sum, they shall be liable to a maximum court fine of $5,000.

Leaving the engine of a motor vehicle running when it is stationary for reasons other than traffic conditions is also an offence under the regulation. From 1 June 2016, the composition sum offered to motorists caught leaving their vehicle engines idling has been increased from $70 to $100. Errant motorists shall be liable to a maximum court fine of $5000 if they fail to pay the composition sum.

The idling engines regulations apply to all motorists driving all types of motor vehicles, except:

  • vehicles that require their engines to be switched on for operation of on-board machinery, such as chiller trucks, concrete mixers etc.
  • taxis/buses in a queue at their designated stops, stands or terminals waiting to pick up/drop off passengers;
  • vehicles that are used for law enforcement or emergency purposes, such as ambulances, SCDF or police vehicles; or
  • vehicles undergoing inspection or maintenance.

Members of the public who spot smoky or idling vehicles on the road are encouraged to report them to NEA, providing details such as vehicle registration number, location, date and time of the incident, via any of the following platforms:

  • NEA hotline:  1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632).
  • Online Feedback: http://www.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/feedback.
  • iPhone/Android application: myENV.
  • Motorists who wish to submit videos of smoky vehicles or idling vehicles can also do so via the myENV mobile application.
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