Entering the European environmental zones without a sticker and registration can be expensive. Here is an overview of the fines and why it pays to enter the environmental zones well informed and with the correct sticker.
In the USA, the VW Group has suffered a legal defeat because of Dieselgate, which could cost it billions. In Germany, customers who want to take legal action against Daimler because of the so-called thermal windows probably have rather bad chances.
Motorbikes are clearly too loud - that's what measurements in Stuttgart showed. Politicians and citizens are calling for an end to this. Noise protection zones like the one in Tyrol could be a solution.
A new law is to make it possible to scan number plates in Germany to prosecute criminal offences. This could also lead to digital monitoring of vehicles in German low emission zones. Other EU states are leading the way.
Controls in the Paris Low Emission Zone are to be automated this year. Drivers who enter the Paris metropolitan area with an unauthorised sticker can then be identified and penalised by camera systems.
Only five days after tightening the rules in the Lyon Low Emission Zone, a class action lawsuit has been filed against the measures. The distinction between private individuals and traders disregards the equal rights of citizens. This could mean the end of the tightening in one of the dirtiest cities in France.
A complaint classifies the exemption for lorries in the Brussels low emission zone as discriminatory and could mean the end of the low emission zone. The city would then have to pay back all fines and day passes to the citizens.
The vehicles emit up to 12 times more CO2 than the manufacturers claim. Some experts suspect cut-off devices which deliberately make the measured values appear low.
Since not everyone has yet accepted the traffic-calmed Jungerfernstieg, the police have considerably extended their controls.
Europe's roads are veritable money printing machines - much to the chagrin of travellers. Where it gets really expensive: a brief overview.
