After several months of consultation, numerous studies and quite a few disputes, the Low Emission Zone of Toulouse Métropole comes into force this Tuesday, March 1 for the most polluting vehicles. It will be gradually extended to other categories of cars and utility vehicles depending on their Crit’Air sticker. The final objective is to ultimately reduce pollutant emissions in the most populated areas and have an impact on the health of the 430,000 inhabitants who live in the area concerned.
Who is affected on March 1?
Professionals with a van, vans and heavy goods vehicles that have a Crit’Air 5 sticker are no longer allowed to drive in almost all the streets of the Pink City, but also on some axes of Colomiers and Tournefeuille. That is a territory of 72 km2, including the western ring road between the Langlade and Minimes interchanges.
This measure is valid day and night and throughout the week and concerns less than 1% of the rolling stock in metropolitan France. Due to about twenty exemptions, temporary or specific, granted by the metropolis, few vehicles will therefore be affected in the end.
Enlargement until 2024
The ban on driving in this area will be extended on September 1 to heavy goods vehicles and commercial vehicles certified Crit’Air 4. Then, on January 1, 2023, it will be the turn of cars and two-wheelers of individuals with 4, 5 and unclassified. In 2024, only vehicles with a Crit’Air sticker 0, 1 and 2 will be able to circulate within the ZFE-m, except those with a derogation. By this deadline, nearly 16% of the rolling stock, or around 45,000 vehicles, should be excluded from the territory of the low-emissions zone.
Premium for changing vehicles
To help motorists, individuals or professionals, to change vehicles, Toulouse Métropole has set up bonuses, which supplement the State conversion bonus and the ecological bonus. Those aid for the purchase, rental or conversion of a vehicle, are allocated subject to means testing. Its amount can be up to 40% of the capped amount excluding tax, depending on the vehicle and the reference tax income.
They also exist for buying or renting a bikeelectric or not.
No control yet
The ZFE-m has been effective since March 1, but for the time being no means have been deployed to verify its application. Checks may take place by the police at random to check the Crit’Air stickers, but with an educational vocation at the start. In 2023, cameras should give the authorities the possibility of carrying out automated checks. Those who venture to circulate despite the ban, or without a sticker, are liable to a fine of 68 euros if they have a car or a utility vehicle and 135 euros if they are driving a heavy goods vehicle.