Car drivers and drivers of other motorized vehicles are no longer allowed to enter Paris' first, second, third, and fourth arrondissement unless they have business there.
The approximately five square kilometer large area includes, among other things, the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden, and the Marais district, as well as many cultural sites and shopping areas.
The new rules mean that drivers must be able to prove that they have a reason to be there. People who live or work in the area have free access, as do buses, taxis, emergency services, and drivers with disabilities.
Individuals who can show that they have come to the area for a doctor's appointment or for a delivery can also pass through. Going to the cinema or theater is also an acceptable reason.
The authorities in Paris have stated that no fines will be issued during the first six months to allow drivers to get used to the new rules.
