CARB Amps Up Border Inspections

According to a CARB press release, the Air Resource Board (ARB) has stepped up its enforcement at the border to “ensure that only vehicles compliant with California’s stringent anti-pollution laws” travel into the state.

“Starting last fall, ARB staff has been regularly visiting the border towns of Otay Mesa and Calexico to educate truckers and business owners in English and Spanish about how to comply with our regulations and what happens when you don’t,” said ARB Enforcement Chief Jim Ryden. “We have been working diligently to send a strong, consistent message that the benefits of compliance far outweigh the risks of ignoring or procrastinating when it comes to cleaning up your vehicles or participating in illegal dray-off.”

The ARB is also looking for “dray-offs.”  A dray-off is when a compliant truck exchanges cargo with a non-compliant truck on or off of a port or rail yard property.

ARB says that in addition to “adversely impacting the air quality,” these trucks also have an unfair advantage over carriers who have spent money to comply.

Those who engage in dray-off will face a stiff penalty.

In 2012, ARB worked with officials in Otay Mesa, Calexico and Tecate in conducting 3,650 inspections on 1,938 trucks.  Together, ARB and local authorities checked compliance of a variety of rules including “excessive idling, correct engine labeling, smoke emissions and tampering, and use of verified emissions reductions equipment for compliance with ARB regulations.” 261 citations were issued.

“Working with the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, visiting trade shows, and conducting well-attended workshops and classes have been instrumental in reaching the local trucking industry,” said Ryden. “We are pleased that they have embraced this issue and are eager to help us get our message out.”

Despite strict emissions regulations, California still has the poorest air quality in the U.S.