The vignettes for the least polluting cars in Paris will come into force on Sunday. The most polluting vehicles will no longer be able to drive in the capital.
Paris is entering a new phase of its pollution control plan. As of January 16, 2017, the capital will become the first Restricted Traffic Zone (ZCR) in France. Vehicles and motorcycles circulating there must be equipped with the “Crit’Air” sticker indicating their pollution level.
With 6 different colors and a numbering system (from 1, for the least polluting to 5, plus a “zero emission vehicles” category), these stickers to stick on the windshield correspond to the emission levels of pollutants of the established vehicles. depending on the engine and the age of the vehicle.
The two objectives of the municipality
These mandatory vignettes, introduced by the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development, have two purposes. For the Prefecture of Police, it is a simple way to identify the cleanest vehicles and therefore to target checks. Note that after an educational period, the control of pollution levels will become automatic at each vehicle stop, for whatever reason. In addition, during pollution peaks, alternating traffic will give way to a new, more relevant device, with traffic restrictions only for the most polluting vehicles, based on the vignettes.
Important note, there are no stickers for the most polluting vehicles, known as “unclassified” (cars prior to 1997 and 2WD prior to 2000), which will no longer be allowed to drive between 8 am and 8 pm, from Monday to Friday. . As a reminder, the most polluting heavy goods vehicles and coaches can no longer circulate between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., 7 days a week since September 2015.
How do I get my sticker?
To obtain your “Air Quality Certificate”, in other words your Crit’Air sticker, simply go to the site www.certificat-air.gouv.fr, provided with the vehicle registration document. A written request procedure has also been operational since January 1, 2017. Obtaining this certificate involves paying a fee of € 3.70 to which is added the amount of delivery by post (which corresponds to an amount of € 4.18). It will take a few days for the certificate to be produced and mailed.
As a reminder, there are more than 200 “low emission zones” in Europe. Since 2008, many German cities have introduced 53 restricted traffic zones, most of them accessible to vehicles with a vignette. The Greater London Low Emission Zone, for example, covers the whole of the British metropolis over more than 1,500 km2.
In case of infringement
Failure to comply with the restrictions of a Restricted Traffic Zone (ZCR), the absence or display of a non-corresponding Crit’Air sticker is sanctioned by a fine of 68 euros to 135 euros, depending on the vehicle categories. All that is missing is the application decrees that have not yet been published.
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