Bipartisan Triumph Over "Rolling Coal"

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by: Colorado Pols

The soon-to-be-illegal practice of “rolling coal.”

After three tries in two years, we’re delighted to note for the record what the Colorado Statesman’s John Tomasic reports:

Senate Bill 278, sponsored in the House by Fort Collins Democrat JoAnn Ginal and in the Senate by Durango Republican Don Coram, passed a final reading in the House today by a wide margin, 40-25.

This is the second version of the bill this year. The first version was killed in a Republican-controlled Senate committee by members who thought the proposed law might net agricultural workers and freight haulers and lead to stricter general vehicle emissions laws. The new version made the behavior and type of vehicles targeted by the law more explicit.

Rolling coal has caught on as a form of defiant cultural protest in the era of climate change and emissions-free vehicles. Drivers pass unsuspecting cyclists and electric car drivers on the road and unleash clouds of toxic black smoke. Coal rollers often post videos of themselves in the act.

The Colorado bill would make rolling coal a traffic infraction and subject drivers to a $100 fine.

Although the bill still could not obtain Republican majority support in either chamber, the support and persistence of Sen. Don Coram was instrumental in getting the second iteration of this bill out of the GOP-controlled Senate. Frankly it’s difficult to understand what the objection to this bill ever was–unless way down deep in your heart, you just think people should be allowed to billow clouds of toxic smoke at hybrid cars, protesters, bicyclists, or whoever else makes the mistake of sharing the road with you.

Thanks to Colorado Democrats and just enough thoughtful Republicans, we can breathe the free air again.

11 thoughts on “Bipartisan Triumph Over “Rolling Coal””

Genghis says:

May 3, 2017 at 1:56 pm

A $100 fine isn't nearly enough – there should be mandatory jail time and a hefty driver's license suspension, in addition to a substantially larger fine – but this is a step in the right direction.

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1. bullshit! says:
  
  May 3, 2017 at 3:10 pm
  
  Mandatory jail time? I think that's a little overboard for this. I agree a bigger fine would be better, but I'm at least glad rolling coal will be illegal.
  
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  1. Voyageur says:
    
    May 3, 2017 at 3:48 pm
    
    I would classify it as careless driving, threepoints off the license. Then, heh, heh, the insurance companies would up their rates.
    
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    1. gertie97 says:
      
      May 3, 2017 at 4:10 pm
      
      I like it, V. A lot of these assholes are underwater on their truck loans as it is. It wouldn't take much of a fine and a higher insurance rate to really hurt.
      
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      1. Voyageur says:
        
        May 3, 2017 at 4:17 pm
        
        I love my f-250 Diesel, gertie, and responsibly driven they are good for the environment because of less CO2. But mine is a 1987 I brought in from our farm when my dad died. Today, you can spend $$50,000 or more on them.
        
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        gertie97 says:
        
        May 3, 2017 at 5:28 pm
        
        I'm not railing at diesels per se. It's the assholes who modify them to spew far more than a normal diesel would. They often have a higher truck payment than rent.
        
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        Voyageur says:
        
        May 3, 2017 at 7:17 pm
        
        Read you loud and clear, lady. These swine are a major pain to responsible owners.
        
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  2. Genghis says:
    
    May 3, 2017 at 4:21 pm
    
    Mandatory jail time? I think that's a little overboard for this.
    
    I don't. Rolling coal essentially amounts to battery. A few days in jail is perfectly reasonable sanction.
    
    You're right, though – the fact that this bill passed at all is a big deal!
    
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COgator95 says:

May 3, 2017 at 10:35 pm

If I understand correctly these twats (mostly shit head republicans) that roll coal have modified their truck's emission control system which is violation of the clean air act.

I also believe modifying your vehicle emissions systems is a felony punishable by a $10K fine and/or up to 1 year in prison. So, why wouldn't the police/sheriff's deputy's nail Johnny Q. Coalroller on those charges as well? Or at the very least send the report to a federal agent to see if they want to prosecute the idiot republican…. ahem…cough… I mean coal roller.

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HeavyG says:

May 3, 2017 at 11:27 pm

Good on Ginal and Coram for persistence.

BUT…this already broke a law worth a bigger fine, obviously not a strong deterrent. Anyone wanna bet how many $100 fines will be written year 1? Anyone? Bueller?

The photo shows the guy is actually being considerate, he is belching it straight up. Thanks bud!

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HWM says:

June 3, 2017 at 7:50 pm

Imagine. Once this passes, which effects an insanely small percentage of the population, it will set precedent to then also outlaw the insidiously nasty cigarette and marijuana smoke emitted from those mean spirited individuals trying to kill children, the elderly and those with asthma.

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