Major fine for smoky Sydney truck

The owner of a truck caught emitting excess smoke in Sydney's M5 East tunnel has been fined $10,000, marking the harshest penalty handed out in the tunnel to date.

The truck had previously been fined for the same offence in the same tunnel three times previously, says the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

According to NSW EPA's Director Reform and Compliance, David Fowler, the body took the pattern of repeat offences into account and decided to prosecute the truck's owner, Tizzana Investments Pty Ltd.

The firm pleaded guilty and was fined $10,000 plus $750 in prosecutor's costs.

"This is the largest fine for smoky vehicles in the M5 tunnel to date, and should serve as a warning to all heavy vehicle operators on our roads," said Mr Fowler.

"Operators of smoky vehicles face on-the-spot fines issued by the EPA of $2000, with repeat offenders attracting even tougher penalties.

"The maximum penalty that a court can impose for this offence is $44,000."

The EPA and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) operate the M5 East Heavy Vehicle Emission Reduction Program. The program aims to improve air quality in the M5 East tunnel by improving compliance through increased penalties, as well as offering vehicle owners financial assistance to install partial diesel particulate filters.