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Paris reins in car use to fight pollution

Xinhua, March 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

Paris began on Monday to restrict car use as a measure to fight surging air pollution, with police checking car plate numbers on the streets.

Only cars with an uneven number, electric or hybrid vehicles and vehicles with more than three people on board are allowed to drive on Monday, while public transport is free for the entire day.

Anyone who refuses to obey the restrictions faces a fine of 22 euros (23.93 U.S. dollars).

French Ecology Minister Segolene Royal on Friday called for limited use of private cars and trucks on Monday. She also encouraged citizens to use clean modes of transport such as Velib and Autolib, which are public sharing services for bicycles and electric cars.

The recent increase in pollution levels has been caused by high temperatures, heavy traffic, industrial pollutants and the hot air re-circulating slowly across densely populated northern France and Paris.

However, a few hours after the driving restrictions were imposed, the French Ecology minister announced they would be lifted on Tuesday in Paris and its suburbs following forecasts showing an improvement in air quality. Endit