Air Pollution Control
Motor vehicles and factories are major sources of air pollution. Air pollutants emitted from motor vehicles are governed by the provision requiring that motor vehicles not emit air pollutants exceeding the control standards.37 Under NEQA, the provision controlling air pollut- ants from motor vehicles is considerably strict in that it allows the official to issue an injunction forbidding the use of any vehicle found to be in violation of the standards, until the emission from such a vehicle meets the prescribed standard. The official shall also mark the polluting vehicle to show that such vehicle is temporarily or permanently forbidden to be in use.38 Furthermore, in issuing the injunction, the official has the power to stop any motor vehicle to check whether the vehicle is in compliance with the law.39
In theory this regulation is very stringent and should be very effective. Unfortunately, the law has never actually been put into practice. Consequently, there are still many polluting vehicles on the streets of Thailand, particularly in Bangkok. Just recently, measures to enforce the law are being considered.
Another regulation on air pollution from motor vehicles is the Traffic Act of 1979. Its relevant provision bans motor vehicles which emit air pollutants exceeding the level designated by the Director-General of the Police Department of the Interior Ministry.40 Violation of such a prohibition is subjected to a fine not exceeding one thousand Baht. In addition, the Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Country Act (COCA) of 1992 also regulates the quality of the air. Under section 13 of this Act, an owner of a motor vehicle transporting livestock, soil, or other