What penalties are given for driving in nice’s low emission zone?

WE LOOK AT THE RESTRICTIONS CURRENTLY IMPOSED IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE CITY’S ZONE À FAIBLES ÉMISSIONS Reader Question: I am aware that Nice has a Crit’Air system in place but could you tell

me which cars are currently banned from driving in the zone? I don’t want to be caught out next time I go there. Since January 1, individuals driving a car which has a Crit’Air 5 rating, and

professionals driving a work vehicle such as a lorry or large van with a Crit’Air rating of 4 or below have not been permitted to drive within Nice’s low emission zone (zone à faibles

émissions or ZFE). READ MORE: A GUIDE TO CRIT’AIR STICKERS IN FRANCE With regard to cars, Crit’Air 5 refers to diesel cars registered after January 1, 1997, but before January 1, 2001.

Vehicles registered before 1997 do not qualify for a Crit’Air rating and are automatically banned from all ZFEs, with the exception of classic cars (with a special registration document to

prove this status) which are not concerned by the Crit’Air system. READ MORE: HOW DO I GET A CRIT’AIR STICKER FOR A FOREIGN CLASSIC CAR? Crit’Air 4 vehicles include diesel vans registered

between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2005. You can find out more about the categories in this table. In theory, people driving banned vehicles, or circulating without a Crit’Air sticker

on their windscreen, face a fine of up to €450, though the standard penalty would usually be €68. However, councillor Gaël Nofri previously told regional newspaper Nice Matin: “We will not

deploy municipal police officers to inspect cars for rule breaches while the state – which came up with this system – does not mobilise its own national police officers to do it.” Crit’Air

checks are set to be automated in the course of next year, so penalties are likely to be issued on a more routine basis from then on. READ MORE: FRANCE TO AUTOMATE LOW-EMISSION ZONE CHECKS

AND FINES BY 2024 You can find out your car’s Crit’Air rating using this government search tool. You can find out more about the areas covered by Nice’s ZFE here. Drivers should be warned by

signs when they are entering and exiting the zone. RELATED ARTICLES SIX CHANGES FOR DRIVERS IN FRANCE IN 2023 CAR POLLUTION STICKER FRAUD RISING IN FRANCE: AVOID GETTING CAUGHT OUT