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Revving up anti-smoke support
 Officers in a recent anti-smoky vehicle operation |
The Force is designating more officers to support environment officials in clearing the streets of smoky vehicles.
District Traffic Teams (DTTs) will provide manpower to assist the Environmental Protection Department in spotting smoky vehicles.
Senior Superintendent (Traffic) Paul Croft said the Force's cadre of vehicle-emission spotters would be expanded from just Traffic Branch officers, to include traffic wardens and DTTs who generally take care of secondary roads. Officers who spot a smoky vehicle take down the licence number and report it to EPD who issue a call-up notice for the vehicle to be examined.
"EPD will increase their joint operations with Police and we will take up the extra workload by including DTTs," Mr Croft said.
"Police are continuing to act in support of EPD who will continue to be the lead agency in operations against smoky vehicles. We will support them by providing uniformed officers to stop vehicles and issue fixed-penalty tickets. Regional Traffic will continue to carry out anti-smoke operations and there is no change in policy in this respect.
"Traffic Branch's commitment will continue where other police duties allow. Our first priority remains road safety and the free movement of traffic across Hong Kong. However, anti-smoke enforcement remains high on our agenda as our officers are among the people who have to live and work in the smog."