Friday, June 16, 2006

Smog Patrol

During the week of June12th members from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Traffic Services Section have been and will continue to work jointly with members of Ontario’s Vehicle Emissions Enforcement Unit, which is commonly known as the Smog Patrol.

The Smog Patrol Unit was formed in 1998 to support the Drive Clean Program by conducting province-wide roadside inspections of both heavy duty and light duty vehicles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s motor vehicle emissions standards. The program uses a risk based approach in order to focus inspections on specific transportation sectors that present the greatest risk to air quality.

Smog Patrol officers are uniformed and drive specially marked ministry vehicles. Officers also use bicycles and motorcycles to better access polluting vehicles in congested traffic conditions. The unit often works with other enforcement agencies such as the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ministry of Transportation and other local police services during vehicle inspection blitzes.

Smog Patrol inspections can occur anytime, anywhere in Ontario, on vehicles registered in Ontario or from out-of province.