Report a Smoking Vehicle In
English Or In
Spanish For Vehicles Registered in Texas Only
To report a smoking vehicle in the Dallas area including:
Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall,
Tarrant, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Somervell, and
Wise counties go to the North Central Texas Regional Smoking
Vehicle Program Web Site at 
www.smokingvehicle.net.
The Problem
How often have you been caught in traffic behind a car, truck,
or bus that is emitting smoke? You smell the fumes, roll up your
window, close the vents, and look for your first chance to pass. It
makes you angry.
Not surprisingly, a large percentage of the air pollution in
Texas comes from the more than 16 million motor vehicles registered
in the state. Each vehicle has the potential to be a source of air
pollution. However, poorly-maintained vehicles are the biggest
contributors to the pollution problem.
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How Reporting Works
You can help the TCEQ get the word to owners of smoking vehicles
in Texas. The next time you see a car, truck, or bus anywhere in
Texas with dirty smoke coming from its exhaust for more than 10
consecutive seconds, write down the license number, date, time,
and location you saw the smoking vehicle.
Report the smoking vehicle, within 30 days, by submitting the
online reporting form
in English,
in Spanish or calling 1-800-453-SMOG (7664). You do not have to
give your name, and the report is free.
The TCEQ will then notify the owner that his or her vehicle may
be contributing to air pollution by smoking excessively. The TCEQ
will also provide the owner with information about how car
maintenance will improve the vehicle's performance.
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Does this Apply to Diesel Vehicles?
Yes, diesels are affected. The TCEQ is aware that some
diesel-powered motor vehicles may emit brief puffs of smoke when
first started, or while under a heavy load, such as passing or
climbing a steep hill pulling a trailer. However, according to
state regulations, no motor vehicle should produce visible exhaust
emissions for more than ten consecutive seconds. This law
applies to all vehicles, regardless of fuel type.
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What Causes Tailpipe Smoke?
Tailpipe smoke is a result of incomplete fuel combustion, which
is usually caused from improper engine operation in both gasoline-
and diesel-powered vehicles. When a vehicle and its engine are not
properly maintained, the likelihood of engine problems and smoke
increases.
Although the smoke, as a whole, is problematic, its color can be
helpful in indicating the potential source of the vehicle's
problems. See TCEQ online publication:
When You Care for Your Car, You Care for the Air (GI-267). Also
in Spanish.
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To Report a Smoking Vehicle
(1) Upon observing a smoking vehicle, please make note of the
following information:
- Texas license plate number
- Date observed
- Time (AM/PM)
- City
- Location observed
(2) Report the information to the TCEQ, within 30
days, by one of the following methods:
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Can Out of State Vehicles be Reported?
The TCEQ's Smoking Vehicle Program is not
designed to accept reports on vehicles that are registered outside
of Texas. The TCEQ does not have the resources or the authority to
retrieve data on vehicle owners from other states.
However, state law prohibits any person from operating a motor
vehicle emitting visible smoke for 10 seconds or longer on Texas
roadways. Therefore, law enforcement authorities statewide do have
the authority to issue citations to the drivers of out-of-state
vehicles if they are observed violating this law.
Your Report Makes a Difference
Since this program started in 1992, the TCEQ has sent more than
160,000 letters to smoking vehicle owners. Thousands have replied
saying they fixed their cars! Repairs have ranged from minor
adjustments to major engine repairs.
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What Happens After a Vehicle is Reported?
The TCEQ's Smoking Vehicle Program (SVP) is designed as a public
outreach strategy to encourage the citizens of Texas to
voluntarily maintain and repair their cars, trucks, and
buses and to promote public awareness regarding the harmful
emissions and air pollution caused by smoking vehicles. Because
smoking vehicle reports are submitted anonymously, the TCEQ does
not investigate reported sightings nor issue any enforcement
actions for alleged violations.
The extent of the action taken by the TCEQ regarding smoking
vehicle reports is the mailing of a notification letter to the
registered owners of the reported vehicles. The letter notifies
them their vehicles were reported to be observed emitting excessive
visible exhaust emissions. It also encourages them to make repairs,
if needed.
Although the SVP is not a TCEQ enforcement program, the smoking
vehicle notification letters inform vehicle owners that they can be
ticketed for operating a smoking vehicle on Texas roadways. State
law under Section 547.605 of the Texas Transportation Code
prohibits motor vehicles with excessive visible smoke emissions
from operating on Texas roadways. Law enforcement authorities
statewide may issue citations, punishable by a fine of not more
than $350, to the owner of "a vehicle that emits visible smoke for
10 seconds or longer."
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What to Do if Your Vehicle is Reported
If you receive a letter from the TCEQ notifying you that your
vehicle was observed emitting excessive exhaust smoke, please
examine your vehicle's exhaust for dirty or excessive smoke. The
TCEQ encourages you to correct the problem if the smoke persists
for more than ten consecutive seconds.
If your vehicle was reported erroneously, please do not be
concerned. Because the smoking vehicle reports are submitted
anonymously, the TCEQ does not investigate reported sightings nor
issue any enforcement actions for alleged violations based on the
reports received. The TCEQ does not keep records of the reported
vehicles nor any personal information regarding the registered
owners.
If you no longer own the reported vehicle, you
can notify the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that you
are not the current owner by submitting a Texas Motor Vehicle
Transfer Notification Form (Form VTR-346) to TxDOT's Vehicle Titles
and Registration Division. A fee of $5.00 must also be submitted to
TXDOT along with the form. TxDOT will keep the VTR form on file to
record the date that the vehicle was transferred to the buyer and
the name and address of the buyer.
However, TxDOT will not remove your name from
this vehicle's title records until a new Texas Certificate of Title
has been issued with the name of the new owner. You can download
the VTR form from the TxDOT Web site at www.dot.state.tx.us.
If you have further questions about the vehicle title and
registration process, please call the TxDOT Vehicle Titles and
Registration Division at 512/465-7611.
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Voluntary Response Form
The TCEQ appreciates the voluntary cooperation of Texans to help
ensure cleaner air in Texas. If you have received a smoking vehicle
notification letter from the TCEQ, please complete the Voluntary
Response Form to help the TCEQ determine the effectiveness of
the Smoking Vehicle Program. This form is also available
in Spanish.
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Other Steps For Cleaner Air
By reporting smoking vehicles, you can do your share for cleaner
air. You can also help out by taking the following steps:
- Carpool or ride the bus
- Bicycle to work
- Don’t let your engine idle unnecessarily
- Drive smoothly — avoid jack-rabbit starts/stops
- Plan ahead to combine trips
- Refuel your vehicle late in the evening or after dark
- Don’t top off your tank
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated
- Keep your car or truck maintained
- Have your automobile inspected
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