# "Coal Rollers:" can they be charged with assault? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669 "2014-07-08T22:23:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/1 "2014-07-08T22:23:02Z")
[Article here about “coal rolling,”](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2683735/Coal-rolling-anti-environmentalists-spending-thousands-dollars-turning-trucks-black-smoke-belching-beasts.html) in which diesel pickup trucks are deliberately modified to spew as much soot as possible. Some of these truck owners have made a pastime out of deliberately spewing black smoke on pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, [as shown in this video.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cbAhfThNoco) Question: Could these drivers be charged with assault? Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen even at EPA-regulated tailpipe levels, but when it contains hundreds or thousands of times the usual concentration of soot, it seems to me that it might be analogous to deliberately spraying someone with injurious/toxic gas. ---
**Author:** ![dam0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@dam0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dam0)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/2 "2014-07-08T22:35:04Z")
I hope so. What kind of ass does this? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/3 "2014-07-08T23:00:11Z")
> [@dam0](#): > > I hope so. What kind of ass does this? Conservatives who regard it as lashing out at Obama/environmentalists. Obama is in favor of clean air, therefore they are in favor of dirty air. To quote the article: > [@](#): > > “I run into a lot of people that really don’t like Obama at all,” the salesperson said. “If he’s into the environment, if he’s into this or that, we’re not. I hear a lot of that. To get a single stack on my truck—that’s my way of giving them the finger. You want clean air and a tiny carbon footprint? Well, screw you.” They are also as I understand it damaging their car. [Another](http://www.businessinsider.com/conservatives-purposely-making-cars-spew-black-smoke-2014-7#ixzz36jJgKPu9) article on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/4 "2014-07-08T23:02:20Z")
I think in most or all states modifying the “pollution control devices” in the car or truck’s engine is a violation of state law. It may also violate federal law. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/5 "2014-07-08T23:34:19Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > [Article here about “coal rolling,”](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2683735/Coal-rolling-anti-environmentalists-spending-thousands-dollars-turning-trucks-black-smoke-belching-beasts.html) in which diesel pickup trucks are deliberately modified to spew as much soot as possible. > > Some of these truck owners have made a pastime out of deliberately spewing black smoke on pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, [as shown in this video.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cbAhfThNoco) > > Question: Could these drivers be charged with assault? Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen even at EPA-regulated tailpipe levels, but when it contains hundreds or thousands of times the usual concentration of soot, it seems to me that it might be analogous to deliberately spraying someone with injurious/toxic gas. Geez, whatever happened to freedom of expression and political protest? And as far as the ‘diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen’ diesel fumes are less toxic than gasoline exhaust (it’s just darker in color). They also contain far less greenhouse gases. Personally I find it funny way of giving the proverbial finger to certain oh-so pretentious Prius owners! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/6 "2014-07-08T23:42:57Z")
> [@dam0](#): > > I hope so. What kind of ass does this? I’m guessing the kind who posted three after you. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/7 "2014-07-09T00:04:07Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Geez, whatever happened to freedom of expression and political protest? This isn’t either of those things. > [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Personally I find it funny way of giving the proverbial finger to certain oh-so pretentious Prius owners! 😃 And if they crash into someone and kill them? Blinding people who are driving isn’t a joke. And how is someone thinking they have the right to blast toxic smoke at people not “pretentious”? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/8 "2014-07-09T00:20:04Z")
Hey, I watched the video, and the guy \*was \*being obnoxious (but not pretentious). But I only just heard about these things and all the ones I saw were large trucks with out-the-top stack exhaust (like a semi) so it wasn’t intrusive. And it is in fact, exactly a form of political protest, same as honking if you’re in favor of something. And like I said, I think it’s a wickedly funny counter to enviro-wienies who think that driving a hybrid or tiny, George Jetson pod-car somehow makes them better than you. And also like I said, get over it. Diesel exhaust is not Zyklon B for Christ’s sake! Gasoline cars’ exhaust is far worse for you health-wise. Old, blue-smoke-spewing ones doubly so. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/9 "2014-07-09T00:23:46Z")
Maybe, just maybe, some/many\* people who drive Priuses think they’re doing something better for the planet rather than to look down their noses at other people. (I’m a vegetarian, but I don’t judge other people for what they eat, and even make meat for others.) (\*Edit: added) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/10 "2014-07-09T00:29:45Z")
Of course, I’d like to mess with these people’s heads by modifying a Prius to do this at the flick of a switch… ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/11 "2014-07-09T00:31:07Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Geez, whatever happened to freedom of expression and political protest? Your right to express yourself definitely ends at my lungs, and of what I see in the videos your ‘protest’ could easily kill a bicyclist or motorcyclist. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/12 "2014-07-09T00:36:49Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > But I only just heard about these things and all the ones I saw were large trucks with out-the-top stack exhaust (like a semi) so it wasn’t intrusive. These people boast of spraying people with their smoke. > [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > And it is in fact, exactly a form of political protest, same as honking if you’re in favor of something. No, it’s assault, vandalism, and a deliberate attempt to produce rage. And foolish; they are damaging their car and just asking for some “road rage” type to attack them or their vehicle. They are also playing into the stereotypes of conservatives as being people who are actively out to destroy the environment, and who are silly enough to automatically do the opposite of what Obama wants for no other reason than he wants it. People have joked for years that if Obama came out in favor of breathing they’d oppose it; now they are doing essentially just that. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/13 "2014-07-09T00:38:53Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > I’m guessing the kind who posted three after you. **Moderator Note** Insults, even oblique ones, are not permitted in General Questions. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. > [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > And like I said, I think it’s a wickedly funny counter to enviro-wienies who think that driving a hybrid or tiny, George Jetson pod-car somehow makes them better than you. **Moderator Note** Political jabs are not allowed in General Questions. No warning issued, but stop being a jerk. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/14 "2014-07-09T01:00:21Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Geez, whatever happened to freedom of expression and political protest? And as far as the ‘diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen’ diesel fumes are less toxic than gasoline exhaust (it’s just darker in color). They also contain far less greenhouse gases. And urine is sterile, so no biggie, right? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/15 "2014-07-09T01:32:59Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > And as far as the ‘diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen’ diesel fumes are less toxic than gasoline exhaust (it’s just darker in color). You’re right, normal diesel _exhaust_ is less toxic than gasoline-engine exhaust. Diesel _soot_, on the other hand, is another matter. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/16 "2014-07-09T01:36:20Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > And like I said, I think it’s a wickedly funny counter to enviro-wienies who think that driving a hybrid or tiny, George Jetson pod-car somehow makes them better than you. Exactly what do you find so threatening about other people’s choice of automobile that you feel the need to retaliate with anger against them? ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/17 "2014-07-09T01:40:12Z")
On the radio they were saying " The USA has more narcassists … " just as I was opening this article. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/18 "2014-07-09T01:46:00Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Hey, I watched the video, and the guy \*was \*being obnoxious (but not pretentious). But I only just heard about these things and all the ones I saw were large trucks with out-the-top stack exhaust (like a semi) so it wasn’t intrusive. And it is in fact, exactly a form of political protest, same as honking if you’re in favor of something. And like I said, I think it’s a wickedly funny counter to enviro-wienies who think that driving a hybrid or tiny, George Jetson pod-car somehow makes them better than you. > > And also like I said, get over it. Diesel exhaust is not Zyklon B for Christ’s sake! Gasoline cars’ exhaust is far worse for you health-wise. Old, blue-smoke-spewing ones doubly so. So, even if the Prius’ owners are in their cars quietly thinking superior thoughts, while inadvertently helping get cleaner air, according to you they’re more the assholes than the people who spew thick, black smoke specifically to impede their ability to drive and purposefully foul the air? Interesting perspective on what makes a person an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/19 "2014-07-09T02:08:56Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Hey, I watched the video, and the guy \*was \*being obnoxious (but not pretentious). But I only just heard about these things and all the ones I saw were large trucks with out-the-top stack exhaust (like a semi) so it wasn’t intrusive. And it is in fact, exactly a form of political protest, same as honking if you’re in favor of something. And like I said, I think it’s a wickedly funny counter to enviro-wienies who think that driving a hybrid or tiny, George Jetson pod-car somehow makes them better than you. > > And also like I said, get over it. Diesel exhaust is not Zyklon B for Christ’s sake! Gasoline cars’ exhaust is far worse for you health-wise. Old, blue-smoke-spewing ones doubly so. And of course these “coal rollers” first determined that the particular Prius drivers they attacked did in fact think of themselves as superior, right? How did they determine this? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669/20 "2014-07-09T02:58:10Z")
Somebody needs to tell the Obama haters that he’s trying to ban Russian roulette. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-can-they-be-charged-with-assault/692669.md?page=2)