Engine running, VP running

Unprecedented decision to fight against CO2 and fine particle emissions in the context of the heat wave, the municipality of Nancy has announced that it will sanction any road user whose vehicle is stationary or parked with the engine running. .

This decision, which could extend to other cities, being legal, between air conditioning and PV, motorists will have to choose.

A decree, although old but still in force, dated November 12, 1963 and relating to the fumes produced by motor vehicles, precisely provides that: "parked vehicles must have their engines stopped, except in case of necessity, in particular when cold starts.

This prohibition has been taken up by the Highway Code which recalls more generally that motor vehicles must not emit smoke, toxic, corrosive or odorous gases, under conditions likely to inconvenience the population or compromise the health and public security (art. R 318-1).

The Court of Cassation has also recently validated the conviction of a fined motorist because his parked vehicle did not have its engine stopped (Cassation, March 22, 2022, 21-85.693) even though the fining agent had not mentioned on the report the emission of toxic fumes.

Know therefore that only the user of an electric vehicle escapes this incrimination and that for the others, they incur a fine of 135 euros and the risk of immobilization of their vehicle.