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ZCR/ZPA/Crit'Air/ -Confused?..IMPORTANT!

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reidalpine

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Calling on ANYONE on here in the know to inform how these new(ish) French restrictions will hit
us all when going by Quatrelle to France ...from what I see there is only a small "Free corridor"
if going to South of France
-Hoping I've got it all wrong,but to me it seems "second-hand cars"(?) ie: cars over 5 yr's old
isn't allowed on the affected roads/zones/whole departments in daytime ??

it seems a shame if North Korea will be the last Free country in the world and so be our only
holiday-destination if going by car..

Any French members :artist: (or others sporting a Big thinking-cap) This your chance to shine and
at same time enlighen fellow members...
Come on don't be shy! -Reid
 
Aside from central Paris (inside the Peripherique) and a handful of other French city centres, we're fine. To go in the cities affected you need a Crit'Air sticker which R4s are too old to qualify for but otherwise you should be ok. Not aware of any issues otherwise and certainly nothing affecting entire departements.
 
Hi there Lobster-I So wish you were right,but asfar a I can see there are about 26/30 Zones
even if some of these are activated only when air-pollution is at high level
Also looks to me as whole of Dijon/Cote D'or area is one zone,along with other Large areas...

-You say our R4 is too old for sticker-Do you mean to say we can drive as we please :confused:
Have a look at www.Crit-Air.fr where the list mentioned is to be found.. .. -Reid.
 
My 2016 volvo 70 XC was given a 5 sticker now banned from Paris.
 
so a 2 years old car was banned from Paris ?? makes one love these socialists doesn't it..
-was is deemed appropriate only in the banlieue or what ?? :doh: -Reid
 
reidalpine said:
so a 2 years old car was banned from Paris ?? makes one love these socialists doesn't it..
-was is deemed appropriate only in the banlieue or what ?? :doh: -Reid
Click to expand...
I have written to Volvo to see if they have applied the correct euro rating as it seems odd to me.
 
I've contacted a French friend of mine living in France to have him clearify these regulations,he doesn't really understand them either
and seems unsure if cars "too old" /secondhand is Exempted from bans -OR forbidden to be used in Zones during daytime ??
His conclusion is very clear tho' "Because we're in France-This is why" ...:dontknow: he says, so very upset you could barely see him shrug
his shoulders -Reid.
 
Hi Reid. The way I see it is, our cars are banned from certain cities, no problem with that, I'd
rather get a tram. As far as the departements go, we are banned when the pollution levels are at a high level, and at other times we can happily enjoy the drive, even in daylight. I've downloaded an app for my phone, it's called Green-Zones, and it gives details of all the zones, not just in France, and it gives an update on the pollution level that day for each zone, and tells you whether you can or can't drive in that zone.
Regards Brian
 
Interesting. I hadn't heard of the departemental restrictions so shall look further into that
As far as Crit'Air goes there is an age cut off so that anything over xx years old can't be driven into Paris etc during the daytime. Presumably they don't create as much pollution at evening or weekends....

I've git Crit'Air stickers for both our modern cars, 2 star for 2017 diesel and 1 star for 2015 petrol and not had any issues.

Having read this, and whilst its not that clear, it does look to me at least as though whilst there is no restriction on driving anything older / without a Crit'Air badge in the departements on most days - ie days where there are no air pollution peaks, if there was an air pollution peak and they introduced restrictions for that day then you wouldn't be allowed to drive.

I wonder exactly how that would work? I don't really see a French man living in rural Vendee just rolling over and accepting that he can't go about his business on a specific day because he drives a 2001 Citroen Xantia TD and similarly, if there is an air pollution issue in July 2019 and there is a restriction in the departement around Chartres and I can't travel that way to Thenay, then what? Do I just accept that I can't go anywhere or do I just do it regardless.

I wonder if this is one of those rules the French like to introduce but in practical effect will more or less ignore?
 
Hi again Lobster, I was surprised too when I saw that zones covered whole dept..
Only thing I can say is what I get out of the Crit'Air site,and it clearly says heavy (or rather serious) fines or even
seizure of car could be enforces.. Like you I hope Les Flicks will look th eother way,but knowing Frech coppers I'm
not convinced.One thing I can tell you they're a hard convinced lot when they have already stopped you.:dontknow:
Most effective I've found just responding to them in Norwegian,and if they see this as too much hard work they will
occationally give you That Serious Look and more or less Brush you into traffic again.. -Reid.
 
Its very strange, Reid.

The thing I can't get my head around is thus (and here's a couple of scenarios)

Lets say I'm on holiday in one of the departements concerned (which as it happens I will be) and they declare a high pollution day. Can I not drive AT ALL if my car isn't meeting the Crit'Air standard (so if they declare only cars of level 2 or above can drive that day). What if it lasts a week? Am I expected to just sit and wait until it passes? If I susbsequently miss my ferry home because of it and end up copping for a few extra days in a hotel, who pays?

Similarly, what happens to the French economy in such circumstances? If they declare that only class 1 vehicles are allowed on the road for a couple of days, do people end up staying at home if they don't have an alternative way to work, does all freight traffic stay off the roads? I just can't see it at all if I'm honest.

That might sound a bit dramatic in all honesty and whilst I can see the sense of applying this in city centres, having a blanket ban across an entire departement seems a bit excessive? Is it really like that?
 
Lobster said:
Its very strange, Reid.

The thing I can't get my head around is thus (and here's a couple of scenarios)

Lets say I'm on holiday in one of the departements concerned (which as it happens I will be) and they declare a high pollution day. Can I not drive AT ALL if my car isn't meeting the Crit'Air standard (so if they declare only cars of level 2 or above can drive that day). What if it lasts a week? Am I expected to just sit and wait until it passes? If I susbsequently miss my ferry home because of it and end up copping for a few extra days in a hotel, who pays?

Similarly, what happens to the French economy in such circumstances? If they declare that only class 1 vehicles are allowed on the road for a couple of days, do people end up staying at home if they don't have an alternative way to work, does all freight traffic stay off the roads? I just can't see it at all if I'm honest.

That might sound a bit dramatic in all honesty and whilst I can see the sense of applying this in city centres, having a blanket ban across an entire departement seems a bit excessive? Is it really like that?
Click to expand...
contacted french authority said my car should have been group 2 but they cannot change it I have to apply again.
 
So in typical Gallic manner;Situation Tres normal-All fuc*** up! Hope you get your Volvo reclassed after new application-and
likely new payment -even if their fault (this is what happens if the rep was on your case before the redwine had it's effect -Reid.
 
Some regulations etc. are plain stupid, but for France it's all French to me :D
 
Any more specific info Anyone? since fines at €68 per situation could seriousely impede on my consumption of my fave red
I would like to come prepared -if only i knew how..... -R.
 
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