CUT-SMOG, the California Highway Patrol's Smoking Vehicle Patrol and AQMD's Smoking Bus Abatement, all components of the AQMD's Smoking Vehicle Program, were established to reduce visible exhaust from vehicles traveling in the basin. The CHP Smoking Vehicle Patrol and the Smoking Bus Abatement programs primarily handle large, on-road vehicles, i.e., buses, trucks and big rigs that emit heavy exhaust smoke. AQMD's CUT-SMOG program depends on public participation. The program is voluntary and callers remain anonymous. Using the Department of Motor Vehicle's database, AQMD retrieves the owner's registration information and mails an advisory letter to the owner informing them that a complaint has been filed against their vehicle.
All information involved in the program remains confidential.
The letter advises the owner that their vehicle was reported to be smoking and recommends they have it repaired to eliminate excessive emissions. However the CHP Smoking Vehicle Patrol can cite passenger vehicles as well as big rigs and buses. Other CHP officers, not dedicated to AQMD's program, can cite vehicles for excessive smoke and if warranted impose a fine. Throughout 1991 incoming calls averaged more than 15,000 a month. To date nearly 1,000,000 callers have volunteered information to the CUT-SMOG program.