MANILA - Two party-list representatives filed a bill that seeks to reward citizens who apprehend drivers or operators of smoke-belching vehicles.

A TEACHER party-list Reps. Mariano Piamonte, Jr. and Julieta Cortuna authored House Bill 4932, which seeks to tap the support of ordinary citizens in going after smoke belching vehicles.

"With too many laws bound to be implemented, it is easy for those concerned to say that it is hard for them to implement all laws effectively, and indeed it is," Piamonte said.

"You still can see smoke belching vehicles running around the streets of Metro Manila and elsewhere. These scenarios can breed some suspicion that authorities are lax in enforcing the law."

Under the bill, any individual who spots a vehicle on the road emitting black smoke is given the authority to apprehend its driver or operator.

The arresting individual shall bring the apprehended/arrested driver and vehicle to a nearby police station. The owner of the vehicle shall be booked for violation of the Clean Air Act.

The vehicle, meanwhile, shall be temporarily impounded.

The bill provides a reward of P10,000 to the arresting individual for every legitimate apprehension of smoke belching vehicle. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall determine the legitimacy of such apprehension.

The DENR shall provide the reward, free of tax, to the apprehending individual.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/11/22/14/bill-gives-citizens-power-arrest-drivers-smoke-belching-vehicles