The Paris City Council has tripled parking fees for heavy vehicles in order to make parking less attractive, particularly for large SUVs.
This measure is also known as the “SUV tariff”.
However, since it is difficult to differentiate between SUVs and other models, parking fees are calculated based on the vehicle’s weight.
Residents are exempt from the increased fees, as are manual workers and emergency services.
The new regulation only applies to visitors’ vehicles, but it affects all propulsion systems.
The new regulation applies to combustion and hybrid models weighing 1.6 tonnes or more, and electric models weighing two tonnes or more.
For these vehicles, parking fees have increased from six to 18 euros per hour in central Paris, and from four to 12 euros per hour in the suburbs.
To determine the weight, number plates are scanned, which are linked to the vehicle model and weight.
Citizens of the French capital voted on this proposal earlier this year.
Of the 1.37 million people registered to vote in Paris, 78,121 participated, with 54.55% voting in favour of introducing a specific parking tariff for heavy vehicles.
This represents a narrow majority. Although only 5.7% of the electorate took part in the referendum, the proposal was approved.
“We are proud to have raised a highly environmental issue at a time when the environment is being presented as the source of all evils,” said Green Mayor Anne Hidalgo in February, following the announcement of the results. “It is a form of resistance here in Paris to this very worrying trend.”
Under Hidalgo’s leadership, pressure on car drivers in the French capital has increased for years through rising parking fees, the gradual banning of diesel vehicles, and at the same time, the expansion of the network of cycle lanes.
