Pollution-free zone in Toulouse on January 1: which vehicles prohibited, which controls, how to obtain a permit
Since January 1, cars and motorcycles with Crit’Air 4 and 5 stickers cannot drive in the Toulouse ZFE. Automated checks will not arrive until 2024.
Since Sunday January 1, cars and motorcycles with Crit’Air 4 and 5 stickers are prohibited from driving in the low emission zone (ZFE) of Toulouse Métropole. These are diesel vehicles marketed between 2001 and 2005 (Crit’air 4), and marketed between 1997 and 2000 (Crit’Air 5). They join the most polluting vans and heavy goods vehicles, already banned since 2021 or 2022.
The forbidden zone includes Toulouse inside the ring road, as well as part of the western ring road in particular (see map). Offenders risk a fine of €68 (cars) or €135 (lorries and cars).
Automated checks will not arrive until 2024
But the year 2023 will still be a year of “pedagogy” on the part of the police, who will not verbalize, as the chief of staff of the prefect again specified, on December 30, on the sidelines of a traffic control operation. “The law must be respected, for the fight against pollution and the health of all, but we will be in the explanation and the pedagogy”, explained Marc Zarrouati. On the other hand, from the second half of 2024, automated checks by cameras will automatically report vehicles entering the ZFE. These checks should be carried out by fixed radars with license plate reading. The system provides for the taking into account of the Crit’air stickers of the vehicles, as well as the exemptions from which certain vehicles benefit (read article elsewhere)
Corridors to access the metro park and ride located in the ZFE
From today, if you have a vehicle with a Crit’Air 4 or 5 sticker, or without a sticker, corridors provide access to the metro park and ride facilities, located within the perimeter of the ZFE: Borderouge, Basso Cambo and Argoulets. In concrete terms, these corridors are portions of streets that have not been included in the ZFE perimeter. For Borderouge, this is boulevard André Netwiller (part between 32 boulevard André Netwiller and 21 boulevard André Netwiller). For Basso Cambo, it is Avenue Paul Ourliac (including the Basso Cambo roundabout), and for Les Argoulets, it is the Agde road (part between the Lavaur road and the roundabout). points out David Freiman).
Aid for the purchase of cleaner vehicles still available
Since 2020, Toulouse Métropole has awarded 448 “vehicle + clean” bonuses for a total amount of €1,204,277, including €35,050 for professionals, and 4,382 “bicycle” bonuses for a total amount of €950,905. These premiums can be combined with aid from the State and the Region.
How to benefit from a derogation and the “ZFE Pass?”
To access the perimeter of the ZFE, even with a theoretically prohibited vehicle (Crit’Air vignettes 4 and 5), permits are granted. Vehicles with permanent disabilities: vehicles from the Ministry of Defence, vehicles with a “mobility inclusion” card or a parking card for disabled people, vehicles from the police, gendarmerie, customs, fire and rescue, medical transport ambulance in particular.
Permanent exemptions, and exemptions for 3 years
Vehicles benefiting from a derogation for a period of 3 years granted by Toulouse Métropole: refrigerated vehicles, construction vehicles, tank trucks, transport of live animals, market supply vehicles, non-sedentary traders, food producers from deliver their production or supply markets within the perimeter of the ZFE, the vehicles of removal professionals, collector’s vehicles, vehicles assigned to the transport of hazardous materials, exceptional convoys (complete list on the Toulouse Métropole website ).
The “ZFE Pass” available from January 2023
In addition, the Métropole has voted to set up a “ZFE pass”, to allow those who only use their car occasionally in Toulouse, for example when visiting their family or to a medical appointment, not to be penalized by the device. This pass will be put into service at the end of January 2023. It is limited to 52 days per year and is aimed at both individuals and professionals, regardless of their place of residence. The request to use the ZFE Pass days will be made through the Toulouse Métropole “online procedures” platform. The request must be made no later than 24 hours before the day of use of the exemption.