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AIR POLLUTION

Paris cops issue 13,000 fines to fight pollution

As part of an effort to fight "dangerous" levels of air pollution in the French capital, police in Paris have handed out around 13,000 speeding fines to drivers in recent days, authorities said on Tuesday.

Published: 11 March 2014 11:46 CET
Paris cops issue 13,000 fines to fight pollution
Paris cops wrote a lot of tickets in the past week in an effort to fight pollution. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP

Police in Paris have taken it upon theselves to battle against "dangerous" levels of air pollution in the capital by handing out thousands of speeding tickets.

The crackdown was part of a battle by authorities to deal with high levels of air pollution that have been recorded in the capital since the middle of last week. Environmental groups have said the levels of polluting particles in the air are putting people's lives in danger.

Paris's police authority said on Tuesday that because it is "particularly attentive to changes in air quality," it decided to use its legal authority to step up its traffic stops.  As a result, officers carried out over 30,000 vehicle stops since last Wednesday.

On Monday The Local reported that environmental groups in Paris made a formal request to legal authorities to tackle the problem pollution, which is caused by high levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air and can pose a risk to anyone who suffers from asthma or other breathing difficulties.

On Tuesday breathing specialist Dr Gilles Dixsaut, told Le Parisien newspaper the pollution levels inthe French capital costs Parisians "at least six months off their lives". 

Dixsaut said certain people in the capital are more exposed than others.

"It used to be the industrial areas [that provided the greater risk] but now it is the main road interchanges. Those people living near them are most affected by nitrogen dioxide that is produced by diesel vehicles.

"Nothing has been done in France about this."

Ecology without Borders (Écologie sans Frontière), Breath (Respire) and Unity for the Planet (Rassemblement pour la Planète) lodged a legal complaint in Paris, on the grounds that pollution levels are endangering people’s lives.

“We are sick of this air pollution,” Nadir Saifi, spokesman of Ecology with Borders told France Info. "As soon as the weather is good, and as soon as it's dry in winter you have these peaks in pollution and the emergency wards at hospitals fill up. Slogans and small demonstrations are no longer enough.”

The pollution in and around Paris is generally caused by the particles known as PM 10, that are emitted by vehicles as well as by chimneys of houses and factories.

In another official effort intended to curb air pollution, Paris Town Hall announced that residential parking will be free on Tuesday and Wednesday. The idea is apparently to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home and take public transportation. 

 

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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