Surprise inspections on Central Valley highways

FRESNO, Calif. -- Only two-percent of California's vehicles are heavy-duty vehicles, like big rigs, but they produce about 30% of nitrogen oxides and about 65% of particulate matter emissions or soot. Today, the California Air Resources Board headed to Fresno to clamp down on trucks emitting toxic fumes.

The ARB cited 9 trucks today for violations that lead to more pollutants in our Valley air. The stops are part of a statewide effort to reduce smog.

Truck after truck pulls up to a stop off Highway 99 where Air Resources Board inspectors are waiting. The random inspections are part of an effort by the ARB to keep smog levels down and make sure big rigs are keeping up with regulations.

This fall, the Central Valley has already been victim to several Unhealthy Air days, forcing many with asthma or health conditions to stay indoors. Bruce Tuter with the ARB says the trucks can have an effect on air pollution in two different ways.

Bruce Tuter, Air Resources Supervisor said, "They not only help contribute to smog in the summer time, especially, but diesel particulate -- the diesel soot you see coming out -- is a toxic compound. It's actually the most toxic air contaminant that we know of."

At the stops, inspectors check out a number of things. They test how much, if any, smoke is coming out of the exhaust. They check the fuel and under the hood. Most importantly, they check the particulate matter filter which can block 95% of soot from getting into the air.

Tuter said, "There was one where the filter was broken and the smoke was just pouring out from the filter itself so it not only wasn't doing its job it was probably doing a worse air quality thing than if it was working."

Truck drivers we talked to were happy to stop and give their vehicles the Air Resources Board's seal of approval.

"It's good for the environment, to get some of these trucks out here up to code," said truck driver Jed Engelmann.

Truck driver Andrew Ditommaso added, "I think it needs to be taken care of that's what these guys are out here for and I'm grateful for that."

Fines can range from a few hundred dollars to $1,000 per month if the particulate filter is either not there or not working. The Air Resources Board will be out again the Central Valley on Wednesday at a different location off Highway 99.