PARIS — Paris imposed drastic measures Monday to combat its worst air pollution in years, banning around half of the city’s cars and trucks from its streets in an attempt to reduce the toxic smog that’s shrouded the City of Light for more than a week.
Cars with even-numbered license plates were prohibited from driving in Paris and its suburbs. Around 700 police manned 179 control points around the region, handing out tickets to offenders. Taxis and commercial vehicles weren’t included in the ban.
Police ticketed at least 4,000 people, and 27 drivers had their cars impounded.
France has seen exceptionally warm, dry weather this month with little wind, which has trapped car pollution and fumes from seasonal farming activity in the air. The country’s unusually high number of diesel vehicles is also contributing to the smog.
Environment Minister Philippe Martin said lower traffic and favorable weather patterns had an impact on pollution Monday. He said the alternate-plates measure would be lifted Tuesday. It was the first time since 1997 that the measure was used.
All public transport has been free for four straight days to help deal with the pollution — but that too is set to end Tuesday.
Paris’s antipollution efforts trail those of some other cities. Athens has had a similar alternate driving ban in place for many years that has reduced pollution and traffic.
Berlin has strict rules on what kind of cars can enter the city, and London makes drivers pay a ‘‘congestion charge’’ to drive in the center of town.