A Drive to Muzzle Cars That Guzzle

WASHINGTON —  Environmentalists hoping to spread guilt among drivers of cars that get low gas mileage said Tuesday that they will begin to slap “gas-guzzler violation” tickets on windshields nationwide.

The coalition of environmental and consumer groups also plans to air on radio a public service announcement that features “slurping noises” and “painful coughing” while a voice tells about the harms of “very thirsty gas-guzzlers” with “bad breath.”

The message is intended to step up pressure on President-elect Clinton, who has said that he supports higher standards for average fuel economy but has stopped short of making any promises.

“We fully expect the Ticket America campaign to be very controversial,” said Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Greenhouse Crisis Foundation, who compared the campaign to anti-smoking efforts. “I think that a lot of people are going to be upset when their car is ticketed.”

But, he said, “when someone drives a gas-guzzling automobile, it’s not just a matter of their personal choice in vehicles. The automobile they purchase affects the lives of others, it affects our environment, it affects the right of future generations to enjoy this planet.”