Smoke fines start in London
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• Westminster City Council became the first local authority to fine drivers for emissions last week when it began a programme of roadside exhaust checks.
Under new regulations which supplement the Road Traffic Act, Westminster's Exhaust Watch learn has enlisted the support of the Metropolitan Police to launch a daily emissions test.
The City Council has been carrying out roadside checks for the past five years, but it now has the power to fine drivers £60 if their vehicles are found to exceed the emissions limit. If this penalty is ignored offenders face a court appearance and a fine of up to £2,000. During its first day of checks the city council failed five out of the 35 vehicles it tested. Of the three HGVs and 11 vans tested, only Iwo van drivers received fines.
Under the new regulations, drivers who keep their engines idling unnecessarily can be fined £20. Westminster is one of seven local authorities expected to pilot the roadside check programme this year; the others are in Birmingham, Bristol, Canterbury, Glasgow, Middlesbrough and Swansea.
Smoke screening piloted in seven local authorities.