Houston billboards urge tattling on tailpipes Along the North Freeway near West Road, among billboards that call consumers to buy everything from appliances to alcohol, is one that urges them to squeal on fellow motorists. Stretched across a blue background is the phone number 800-453-SMOG, accentuated by a cloud of black smoke and the words "report smoking vehicles." The advertising agency that posted the sign estimates that 145,000 people see it daily. State and local officials say the sign, and others like it, will be up during the height of the ozone season. "It's a program that gets the community involved. The more eyes we can have on the road out there, the better for Houston air," said Adria Dawidczik, a spokeswoman with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. "Our main concern is getting those cars off the road." The "smoking vehicles" program offers pollution-conscious motorists a chance to confidentially report cars that are spewing smoke, according to the recording on the toll-free number. Motorists also can make a report via the Internet by logging on to www.smokingvehicles.org. Since Jan. 1, the state has received 15,688 reports of smoking vehicles. Of those, 4,672 came from the Houston-Galveston area and 3,778 came from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. click for more and pictures! --- The online form is the easiest to use. It requires a license plate number, time you saw the incident and location. Get your dang mufflers fixed, people!
Wow. I've always wanted to be able to do something about those people who's vehicles belch smoke all over the place. As we've all experienced, the ones who do it when you're stuck in traffic are the worst. You can't escape them. Has anyone ever seen one of these chumps pulled over for it?? Not I. I'm going to assume that this applies to Austin. I think I'll put the number in my cell phone. Thanks, rockHEAD.
