At our November meeting, the Environment and Climate Council overwhelmingly approved a new resolution urging the Washington State Legislature to criminalize “rolling coal”—the intentional modification of diesel engines to spew black exhaust toward pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers as a form of harassment and anti-environmental protest.
Rolling coal has long been recognized as dangerous, polluting, and illegal under the federal Clean Air Act, but Washington lacks a specific state-level law prohibiting the act itself. This gap in state statute makes enforcement difficult for local law enforcement and leaves communities without a clear tool to address the behavior directly.
The resolution highlights serious public-health concerns linked to diesel exhaust. According to federal and international health agencies, modified engines used for rolling coal can emit pollutants at many times the legal limit—including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and toxic hydrocarbons. Diesel particulate matter is a known human carcinogen, contributing to elevated risks of lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, and premature death. These impacts fall disproportionately on frontline communities already burdened by poor air quality, making this both a public-safety issue and an environmental-justice issue.
By passing this resolution, the ECC is calling on the Legislature to take concrete action:
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Criminalize intentional rolling coal, including fines and potential jail time.
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Increase clarity for enforcement, giving law enforcement a defined statute they cuse.
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Promote public safety for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and anyone sharing the road.
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Reduce toxic emissions that harm both individual health and the climate.
The resolution also directs the WSDCC Chair to communicate this call to action to the Governor, Attorney General, legislative leadership, and relevant transportation and environmental committees. Additionally, it encourages county and LD Democratic organizations to advocate for this legislation and help educate their communities about the dangers of rolling coal.
Passing this resolution is an important step in advancing cleaner air, safer roads, and stronger environmental protections in Washington. We’re proud of the members who supported this effort—and we look forward to working with partners across the state to turn this resolution into meaningful legislation in the 2025–26 session.
You can read thefull text of the resolution here.
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