How to deal with idling engine problem

Johan Olausson ("'Toothless' law lets drivers avoid fines for idling engines", August 2) laments again the failure on the part of the administration to enforce the Motor Vehicle Idling (Fixed Penalty) Ordinance and asks lawmakers and the government to effect changes to the regulations in order to make them more easily enforceable.

However, as we well know, this could be a drawn-out process and the transport lobby would certainly wade in to ensure that the usual time-consuming consultations and delaying tactics would result in insignificant improvements.

I have always maintained that there was no need for this toothless legislation as 99 per cent of idlers are illegally parked and all that is required is strict enforcement of the many traffic and parking regulations on the books. Moreover, these regulations are not subject to silly three-minute waiting times and hot weather exemptions.

Edmond Ho, of the Environmental Protection Department ("Two-pronged approach to idling engines", April 11), talked of the department's enforcement and publicity approach to help drivers foster "the green driving habit of switching off idling engines".

In the first half of this dual approach, traffic wardens would "enforce the prohibition during their normal patrols. The department co-ordinates enforcement as well as publicity activities, particularly at locations where complaints against idling vehicles are received". As this approach is evidently not working and we employ a mere 300 traffic wardens, the most obvious way to reduce roadside pollution is to eliminate the department element and divert costs to employ additional wardens whose duties are:

• Enforcement of the provisions of traffic legislation in relation to the parking of vehicles, including the issue of fixed penalty parking tickets;
   
• Discharging functions conferred on them under the Road Traffic Ordinance, including controlling and regulating traffic and other related duties; and
   
• Performing duties conferred on them under the Motor Vehicle Idling (Fixed Penalty) Ordinance.

With a pay scale of HK$13,145 to HK$19,010 per month, traffic wardens who enforce all the above are indeed value for money.