Black-exhaust buses told to fix fumes or face fines

Citizens have taken to social media to post their "photos of shame" of buses, lorries and cars spewing black smoke.

Authorities have impounded 130 lorries and buses that were found to be spewing black exhaust smoke in excess of the safety limit in 15 provinces leading to Bangkok.

Peerapol Tavornsuppacharoen, director-general of the Department of Land Transport (DLT), said on Sunday his agency has set up 31 checkpoints on both main and minor routes leading to the capital since Saturday to inspect exhaust fumes from lorries and public buses.

Any that were spewing out more than 45% black smoke would be impounded and spray-painted to prohibit their further use, he said. The owners will be fined 5,000 baht.

Such poorly maintained vehicles must be fixed urgently until they qualify for DLT certification, he said.

Those that emit 30-45% of black smoke will be warned and their owners granted a grace period to to resolve the problem.

For the two-day inspection of 3,280 vehicles by officials at the checkpoints, 113 lorries and 17 buses were found to have been breaking safe emission limits, he said.

Buses that fail to comply may have their licences revoked.