Last night, Aspen City Council approved an ordinance to fine heavy duty diesel vehicles that emit too much smoke.
The new law localizes a state-wide regulation that requires diesel vehicles to keep emissions below 40 percent opacity, which is the measure of the particulate in smoke from trucks. Trucks are periodically stopped and tested; six of the 33 trucks at a test conducted earlier this summer failed.
The state rule imposes a $25 fine, which local officials say is not enough to encourage truckers to maintain their vehicles. Failure to comply with the Aspen ordinance, on the other hand, comes with a $500 fine - unless the owner can show that proper repairs have been made.
The ordinance goes into effect in spring 2017.