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Paris passes landmark vote to triple parking charges for some SUVs

By Tom Gibson | February 5, 2024

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Over half of Parisians voted to implement the increase of parking passes for cars weighing more than 1.6 tonnes

Paris passes landmark vote to triple parking charges for some SUVs

SUV owners who drive into Paris without a special pass will see their parking costs triple after a landmark new vote was passed in a referendum on Sunday.

55% of Parisians voted in favour when asked if they were "for or against the creation of a specific rate for the parking of heavy, bulky, polluting individual cars?".

Although just over 5% of residents case a vote, a six-hour stay with an SUV will cost €225 (£192), compared to €75 (£64) for smaller vehicles.

The parking measures are the latest effort by Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo to make one of the world’s busiest cities greener and more hospitable for pedestrians and cyclists.

SUVs that are kept by Parisians in the city won’t be impacted, but even electric vehicles that weigh over two tonnes will be liable for the same charge of €18 (£15) per hour with costs then increasing further every hour.

Ms Hidalgo said: "We're proud of having posed an eminently environmental question at a time the environment is presented as the source of all evil. It's a form of resistance here in Paris to this very concerning movement."

Unsurprisingly, there are some irate groups who have fought against the introduction of new parking charges. The group "40 millions d'automobilistes" were one of the most vocal groups from the opposition and said; "We must firmly oppose these attacks on freedom pursued under false green pretexts.

"If we don't stop it now, this unjustified rebellion led by an ultra-urban and anti-car minority will spread like gangrene to other cities."

The move to introduce the new charges comes less than a year after e-scooters were banned from the city.

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