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Bill Aims To Help Law Enforcement Crackdown On 'Coal Rollers'

rolling coal
Jim Hill
/
KUNC

With a few adjustments, owners can modify their diesel truck exhaust to spew out a thick, black smoke. It’s called rolling coal.

"People riding bikes or pedestrians get blasted by this," says Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood.  

He’s co-sponsoring a bill to make it easier for law enforcement to do something about it. 

"It was inspired by the Fort Collins Police Department. They see people doing this and they don’t have anything they can clearly charge them with without going into a real depth of an investigation."

Tyler says the bill would allow officers to ticket people who intentionally roll coal on drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. They’d face a $35 fine and have to appear in court and could be assessed two points against their driver's license.

The County Sheriffs of Colorado, an organization that represents the state’s sheriffs, supports the measure.

Tyler thinks it has good chance of clearing the Democratic-controlled House. And, he hopes to find a Republican sponsor to carry the measure in the GOP Senate.

Editor's Note: The bill was scheduled to go before the state House Transportation Committee on March, 23. However, the hearing was canceled because the legislature closed due to snow and blizzard like conditions. The bill is now set to be heard by the committee on April 7. 

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