the essential
While Toulouse has suspended the ban on Crit'Air 3 vehicles in the low-emission zone (ZFE), Jean-Luc Moudenc points out the State's unkept promises on controls and sanctions linked to this system.
In October 2023, Toulouse suspended the ban on Crit'Air 3 vehicles in the low-emission zone (ZFE). Why and how was this decision made? We know your criticisms of these areas, in particular their risk of “social fracture”.
I did not criticize the measure in substance, but the way in which it was imposed. The transition to less polluting vehicles is an excellent thing, and there is no doubt about this objective. What upset local elected officials, including me, is that this decision stems from a law resulting from the Citizens' Convention, without consulting the communities concerned. This is paradoxical, because this same law entrusts us, to metropolises and large cities, with the implementation of these measures. I denounced this paradox, which led me to write a report at the request of Christophe Béchu, minister at the time. This work has, I believe, made it possible to introduce more common sense into the system. Thus, in Toulouse, we were able to postpone the ban on Crit'Air 3 vehicles, in particular thanks to a continuous improvement in air quality.
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You also insisted on the importance of supporting low-income households with financial aid. How many were distributed in Toulouse, and are they still in force despite the fall of the Barnier government and the rejection of the 2025 budget?
Toulouse is today the French metropolis most generous in terms of aid for the purchase of clean vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles included. In just over four years, we have allocated nearly 10 million euros to residents of the metropolis, especially lower-middle-class households. This aid, in addition to that of the State and the region, was not affected by the censorship of the 2025 budget. We are continuing this virtuous movement.
Beyond financial aid, should the Crit'Air sticker system be reviewed to facilitate the transition?
This is a point addressed in the report submitted to the minister: it is essential that the Crit'Air sticker is not the only regulatory criterion. The State told us that this is a European regulation, the revision of which is not planned for several years. Neither communities nor the French State can therefore modify these criteria. In my opinion, it would be preferable to assess the actual pollution emitted by each vehicle, rather than basing it solely on its age. This would require suitable technical controls, because certain older vehicles, although theoretically prohibited, pollute less than others authorized to circulate.
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What about the sanctions for violators? The government had promised the installation of automatic radars, but nothing seems to have been done…
Honestly, sanctions are not for tomorrow. Since the creation of the EPZs, the State has always declared that it would take control of them, but it has constantly postponed the implementation of this system. Today, we have no more news about this project. Political uncertainty and budget constraints don't help. I clearly indicated to the government that the intermunicipalities had neither the means nor the intention to implement this system. The State must respect its commitments.
Can you actually be sanctioned today in Toulouse because of your Crit'Air sticker?
Currently, the only possible sanction occurs during a random police check, for example for speeding. No specific Crit'Air control system is in place.
