Should there be the Green Police?

I have a question for you. Where do you draw the line between common sense environmental protection and over-the-top environmentalism? With a lot of debate and hype over global warming, the serious discussion about cleaning up our environment seems to be blurred with the religion of folks like Al Gore. So I bring to you for discussion the role of the Green Police.

The Green Police is the unofficial nickname of members of New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation. This force is tasked with enforcing the Environmental Conservation Law, which can range from air pollution to the sale of protected fish species. Protecting the planet and her species are important, and should be encouraged. However, consider the following.

Say for example you are driving down the street in a vintage 1957 Chevy. You have done a decent job of maintaining the car over the years, but it idles hard while you are at a stoplight. While you are waiting for the light to turn green, you notice behind you flashing lights and someone walking up to your window. The reason for the stop? Your cars’ emissions have set off a sensor inside of the vehicle behind you. The Green Police have the authority to ticket you for air pollution.

You have to pass an emissions test in most states when registering your car, so being cited for air pollution isn’t an overreach by the government. It is required of you to ensure your vehicle meets certain standards if you wish to take it on the road. But can this power fine you pass from the acceptable to the abusive? I think so, if we allow the unrealistic views of extreme environmentalism influence common sense environmental protection.