Paris enforces old car ban

[Express]

Paris enforces old car ban


Vehicles built before 1997 are now banned from entering the French capital.



Sam Charlwood
6 July, 2016



Clearer skies: the city of Paris has enforced a ban on older vehicles. Photo: Supplied.


The city of Paris has officially enforced a ban on old cars and motorcycles in a bid to combat heavy weekday pollution.

From this month, cars built before 1997 and motorcycles and scooters built before 1999 will be restricted from inside the French capital and some of its most famous streets during the daytime, including the Champs-Elysees and around the Arc de Triomphe.

The Parisian government enforcing the bans will issue modest, phased-in fines during weekday traffic between 8am and 8pm. A grace period is in effect until October, with fines set to rise as high as $100 (AUD) in 2017.

Offending cars will be allowed to drive freely on weekends, while historic vehicles will reportedly be given extra leeway when venturing into the French capital.

The measures follow a raft of trials aimed at minimising Parisian pollution, which at times can render the Eiffel Tower nearly invisible.

In 2014, French officials began imposing alternate driving days for motorists – depending on whether they had odd or even-numbered licence plates. Paris officials have also offered incentives for public transport and car pooling in the past, akin to measures in place in Asia and the rest of Europe.

The restrictions appear largely aimed at diesel vehicles, with the French government wanting to gradually phase out diesel-powered passenger vehicles. As it stands, roughly 80 per cent of French motorists drive diesel-powered cars.

It's thought the ban on older vehicles will cover about 10 per cent of cars currently registered in Paris, about 30,000 vehicles. By 2020, the ban will cover cars registered before 2010.

And if you're wondering how French police will track offenders, vehicles will now use window stickers classifying them by their pollution levels.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/p...06-gpzwb9.html