Certificate of quality de l'air

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Vignettes

The Certificat qualité de l'air , or Crit'Air for short, is an environmental vignette used in France . Environmental zones ( French Zones à Circulation Restreinte ) may only be entered with vehicles that have the Crit'Air vignette.

The Crit'Air is comparable to the German environmental badge.

History and goals

In France, a vignette called Crit'Air was introduced on July 1, 2016. Some French cities have already set up environmental zones (“Zones à Circulation Restreinte”), and others will follow. The pioneer was the city of Paris , which introduced the environmental zone on July 1, 2016. Grenoble followed on November 1st . the Lyon region on December 12, 2016 .

The corresponding zones may only be entered with vehicles that have the Crit'Air vignette. The aim of the vignette is a medium and long-term reduction of emissions and air pollutants, the promotion of new and energy-efficient vehicles and the exclusion of polluting vehicles from traffic. In particular, the pollution with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine dust is to be reduced. From April 1, 2017, the mandatory vignette will also apply to EU commercial traffic and tourists. Vignettes can be ordered online from the French Ministry of the Environment or private providers. When purchasing from the Ministry of the Environment, fees of € 3.11 plus postage are incurred. Sometimes much higher fees (as of June 2018).

Pollutant groups / Crit'Air colors

There are a total of six different categories and colors in which the Crit'Air vignette can be assigned. In contrast to the regulations in Germany , the allocation depends not only on the amount of emissions but also on the energy efficiency , the vehicle type and the year of first registration. Completely emission-free vehicles (electric vehicles or hydrogen-powered vehicles) receive category 0 (green vignette). This is followed by further gradations up to category 5 (gray vignette), which includes, for example, diesel cars with Euro 2. Cars with Euro 1, without Euro norm or an initial registration before October 1, 1997 do not receive a vignette. Stricter requirements generally apply to commercial vehicles. A detailed list, divided into vehicle categories, can be found on the official website.

Practical implementation of the environmental zones

Environmental zones are only valid within certain times of the day. Specifically, this means that from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., only vehicles with a valid vignette are allowed to enter the established zones, unless otherwise stated. Vehicles without a vignette are also allowed to enter the environmental zone outside of this time frame. The only exceptions are old buses and trucks. In addition, people with a disabled parking card do not need a Crit'Air, as this card is standardized and therefore recognized throughout Europe. The zones can be identified by means of traffic signs with the inscription Zone circulation restreinte . Leaving the zone is marked with the sign Fin de zone circulation restreinte .

Penalty for violations

In the case of missing or incorrect Crit'Air vignettes, fines have been due since January 15, 2017 . The amount depends on the vehicle type. For example, violations involving trucks and buses are charged at 135 euros, and violations involving cars and all other vehicles are 68 euros. If the fine is not paid within 45 days, it increases to 180 euros for cars and to 375 euros for trucks and buses. No distinction is made between vehicles registered in France and foreign vehicles.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Laetitia Van Eeckhout: Crit'Air: mode d'emploi des vignettes antipollution obligatoires à Paris. Le Monde , January 16, 2017, accessed March 28, 2017 (French).
  2. ↑ Demander son certificat. In: Service de délivrance des certificats qualité de l'air. Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Energie et de la Mer, accessed on March 28, 2017 (French).
  3. ↑ Service for issuing the environmental badge. Ministère de la Transition Ecologique et Solidaire, accessed June 7, 2018 .
  4. ^ Certificats qualité de l'air: Crit'Air. Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Énergie et de la Mer, accessed on March 28, 2017 (French).
  5. ↑ Angélique Negroni: Vignettes antipollution dans Paris: mode d'emploi. Le Figaro , November 29, 2016, accessed on March 28, 2017 (French).
  6. ↑ The French environmental badge | Umweltplakette.org. Retrieved on March 28, 2017 (German).