For or against SUVs in Paris? Six questions to understand all about “citizen voting”.

More than seven months after withdrawing 15,000 electric scooters, Paris City Hall is once again attacking transport deemed inconvenient for the capital’s residents. This Sunday, February 4, it is presenting a citizen vote with a proposal to triple parking rates for tall and heavy cars known as SUVs. Le Figaro Explains all points of counseling in six questions.

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What does the proposed measure correspond to?

“To create a specific rate for parking heavy, heavy, polluting private cars or against?” That’s the question Parisians will have to answer on Sunday. If “for” Wins, a visitor whose thermal or rechargeable hybrid vehicle exceeds 1.6 tonnes or two tonnes for an electric vehicle will see hourly rates increase from 6 euros to 18 euros per hour for the central districts (1st to 11th arrondissements), and 12 for the 4th to the outermost arrondissements. Euro (from 12th to 20th).

Locals, on the other hand, will not be affected by this increase: elected officials at the head of the city of Paris have announced that they will make an exception for its residents. Only visitors to the suburbs or the rest of France will be affected. Potential increases will also not affect: “Including residents of Paris and sedentary professionals parked in their official parking zones, taxi drivers in dedicated stations, artisans, health professionals and those qualified for the professional rate, as well as holders of PRM and mobility cards – Parking”.

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What arguments are put forward by the town hall?

“The bigger it is, the more it pollutes”In early December, PS Councilor Ann Hidalgo put forward the argument, justifying it “Road Safety” : Accidents involving SUVs “Twice as deadly to pedestrians as normal cars”, According to him. The mayor also shed light “Better Sharing of Public Space”Bigger cars are perceived as taking up more space on the road while cars have gained an average of 250 kg since 1990.

The NGO WWF describes SUVs as a “distraction” in the face of global warming: they “200 kg heavy, 25 cm long, 10 cm wide” than a standard car. In addition, they require more materials to produce, consume 15% more fuel and emit 20% more CO2 than sedans. David Belliard (EELV), a mobility assistant, estimates an additional income of around 35 million euros in the event of taxation.

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What arguments are put forward by opponents?

Motorist associations have criticized the initiative for several months. “More or less SUV, the question is terribly ‘artistic'” Because the acronym is a “Marketing Name” WHO “doesn’t mean anything”, Yves Cara, spokesman for the Mobility Club France, reacted. According to him, “Compact SUVs will not be taxed”, unlike the family sedan and station wagon. For the right-wing opposition, the Parisian vote “Shows the extent of the manipulation by the City, which targets SUVs in its communications when, in reality, any type of vehicle is likely to be affected by the standards submitted to the vote”.

For pollution charges, “New Modern SUV” the birth “No more or less polluting than a pre-2011 small diesel vehicle”40 million motorists underline the association. “If it were really a question of limiting pollution, a distinction would be made between thermal vehicles and hybrid or electric vehicles, MoDem MP Maud Gatel agrees with AFP. In Paris “resident” SUVs, which are not affected by the measure, represent 26.6% of the fleet according to the AAA data agency..

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Which vehicles are affected?

A so-called SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) car, with a combination of characteristics “Passenger Car with Utility Vehicle”, and 4x4s, will be targeted. However, it is difficult to characterize the vehicles that will be taxed as there is no classification of SUVs in the body categories defined by the European Commission. However, in Europe there are nine categories to which car manufacturers add subcategories: urban, compact, family, etc.

They have become the best-selling vehicles across Europe, accounting for half of car sales in 2023.

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Who can vote?

Only residents of the capital registered in the voter list will have their say. “With regard to citizens of the community, only those registered in the supplementary list for municipal elections may participate in this vote”, refers to the town hall. However, it is not possible to use power of attorney “Due to the municipal status of the vote”.

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Where can you vote?

Voting is open in “All Districts of the Capital City”, on its website guarantees the town hall from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 38 polling stations will be open to 1.3 million voters. “Voting will be purely physical and will take place between 9 am and 7 pm.”She continues.