Italy: Milan Introduces City Center Pollution Charge

Starting today (Wednesday, January 2, 2008) and for a trial-period of one year, drivers in Milan will have to pay a “Pollution Charge” in order to enter the city's 8 square-kilometre centre (three square miles) during weekday daytime hours (7.30 a.m. through 7.30 p.m). Depending on the type of vehicle, drivers will be charged between 2 euros ($3) and 10 euros ($15) for the most polluting models. Those who are driving electric cars and hybrids will be exempt from the charge.

Car drivers will be able to pay the charge through scratch cards, which can be activated online, with text message services, or SMS, or by regular phone. According to reports, authorities in Milan are seeking to raise 24 million euros a year from the “Pollution Charge” with about two-thirds of that sum to be used in improving public transportation. -Continued after the jump

"This is a new way to deal with the problem of pollution and health," Milan mayor Letizia Moratti told Il Giornale newspaper in an interview published on Monday. "This is a model that a lot of cities are looking at with interest," she said.

Via: Reuters