ZFE in Toulouse: 60 cameras should automatically monitor the most polluting vehicles at the end of 2023
By Guillaume Laurent
Published on
Seven months after its entry into force, can we already draw any conclusions from the beginnings of the Low Emission Zone (ZFE), intended to limit access to the most polluting vehicles to Toulouse ? “The State is unable to meet its own deadlines”, had scolded the mayor (LR) of the Pink City and president of the Metropolis Jean-Luc Moudenc in early September, during an interview granted to Toulouse news.
A month later, according to its vice-president in charge of ecology Francois Cholet, seems on the same line, and the ZFE is treading water:
“Jean-Luc Moudenc spoke to Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne recently, these are questions that cross Toulouse”, assures the elected official. “Two major concerns remain” outstanding in the eyes of François Chollet, questioned on the sidelines of a press conference devoted to the “Innovative and Sustainable Toulouse” festival, this Wednesday, October 5, 2022: “That of the little rollers” and “that of controls” access to this perimeter which covers 72 km2and which includes the inner part of the ring road in Toulouse, but also a portion of Tournefeuille and Colomiers, since it also concerns the roads up to the Arc-en-Ciel ring road and the Fil d’Ariane.
When and how will the controls work?
Regarding access to the ZFE, “there is uncertainty about the date on which these controls will come into force. We are talking about mid-2023. But it is up to the State to confirm this date or not, ”said Jean-Luc Moudenc at the beginning of September. A month later, its vice-president shares the latest information collected from the State: ” Controls by automated reading of license plates, will be set up at the end of 2023″.
Sixty cameras
In addition to this question of the deadline, the Toulouse elected official poured out on the arsenal of cameras which would be deployed – theoretically at the end of 2023 therefore – by State services to control access at the Toulouse ZFE:
“Sixty fixed cameras will be deployed to carry out these checks”.
And if many motorists do not yet display the Crit’Air sticker on their vehicle in the streets of the Pink City, it is in their best interests to behave in good standing, warns François Chollet: “The vehicle sticker is already controlled by the national police or the municipal police”, observes the chosen one. “When you are arrested, you have to present your papers and [les forces de l’ordre, ndlr] now controls the Crit’air thumbnail”.
First turn of the screw for individuals in January
Remember that since the beginning of September, new access restrictions have been applied, and the ZFE now concerns certified heavy goods vehicles and commercial vehicles. Crit’air 4. These vehicles have joined the most polluting trucks and vans, equipped with a sticker Crit’air 5 or not Classesincluded in the scope of restriction since 1uh March.
Some trades, however, benefit from deviant for three years, but these “are and will remain temporary”, according to François Chollet.
Pour them individualsthe first turn of the screw will take place in three months, from the start of 2023. 1uh next January, ” them Light vehicles and two motorized wheels transfer thumbnails Crit’Air 4, 5 and unclassified, will in turn fall under circular bans in Toulouse.
Crit’air 3 vehicles banned from circulars in Toulouse in 2024
Then, in 2024, these are Crit’air 3 vehicles which will fall within the scope of the restrictions. On this date, only vehicles with a vignette Crit’air 0, 1 and 2 should therefore circulate within the ZFE-m, except for derogations in force.
The leap into the unknown for little riders?
François Chollet, who concedes “to receive a lot of mail since the entry into force of the ZFE”, says he is concerned by “the situation of small riders”, some no longer know what to do with their cars which they only use occasionally.
“I assessed a high expectation on this. These little drivers tell me: ‘Listen, I have an old car, I maintain it, but I don’t drive much…’ These are people who only go out in their car on weekend or on vacation, and do only 5,000 km per year”.
François Chollet is worried: “We don’t have no solution found to allow this category of people to have the ability to go out from time to time… This can put some in some people”. Without even speaking of the cameras which will scrutinize the entrances to the city, do these motorists suspect they will be sanctioned if they leave their vehicles that do not comply with the ZFE inside the perimeter? The state, which is in charge of introducing this measure, did not answer this question either.
“The ZFE is a colossal health benefit”
While there are many comments on the vagaries and restrictions associated with this new system, François Chollet also takes care to recall that “if the ZFE is a constraint, it is also a colossal health benefit regarding the emission of pollutants”. According to him, “it is very rare to have such strong public actions: 450,000 people will see the air quality improve! “.
He recalls that the Métropole has set up “public aid, intended for individuals and companies”, in order to give a boost to those who live in one of the 37 municipalities of the territory, and wish to switch to a clean vehicle.
“There has never been any aid at this level,” defended François Chollet, who recalls that the community has at the same time put in place measures to encourage the purchase of electric bicycles. These subsidies from the Métropole, “combinable with other aid”, in particular those from the State, are allocated under conditions of resources. According to the community, “70% of households that received assistance [pour un véhicule propre] have an income of less than 18,800 euros per unit”. But how many do not enter the boxes, and remain by the side of the road?
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