The low-emission zone for cars in the ideal center of the capital came into force in Sofia. This means that in the so-called "small ring" is prohibited for cars from the first and second ecogroups. The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) aims to improve air cleanliness and will be valid during the winter months - from December 1, 2024. until February 28, 2025 What we need to know… Rumyana Milova, director of the Center for Urban Mobility (CGM), spoke to FAKTI.
- Mrs. Milova, in Sofia, a ban on the movement of cars with an eco-sticker of the first and second categories has been introduced in the ideal center of the capital. What should people know?
- From December 1, 2024 until February 28, 2025 the ban applies to cars from the first and second environmental groups in the so-called “small ring“, the area surrounded by: Blvd. “Vasil Levski“, blvd. “Patriarch Euthymius“, blvd. “Gen. M. D. Skobelev“, st. “Oplchenska“, blvd. “Slivnitsa“. At the borders of the low-emission zone there are signs that indicate and remind where the zone starts. Cars with eco-stickers from these two groups are not allowed in this zone. This is part of the measures to protect air cleanliness adopted by the Metropolitan Municipality. The Center for Urban Mobility supports this policy and we have certain tasks under it that we carry out.
- What should citizens do who live in the paid local parking zone, have the right to park where they have paid, but their cars belong to these categories?
- Citizens who have been issued an electronic vignette sticker for local paid parking and live in the small ring do not need to do anything. They are using the area as they have been until now. Those who have a permanent address in the “small ring” area, but for one reason or another have not been issued an electronic vignette sticker for local paid parking, must submit an application and accompanying documents to us in order to be able to enter and exit “the small ring” take it easy At the moment, there are about 450 such applications submitted. The procedure is quick. The documents they have to present to us are like those for paid local parking.
- A person from the countryside comes to Sofia, but he has to enter this zone. What's going on? Will he be fined and what are the penalties?
- The low-emission zone applies to all cars that do not meet the access conditions, regardless of where they are registered. The fine is between BGN 50. and BGN 200 for individuals, and from BGN 1,000. up to BGN 2,000 for legal entities. Citizens who come from the countryside and have work in the area of the small ring should leave their cars outside and use public transport.
- How the cars are detected. What is the role of CGM in this process?
- The control is carried out by the Metropolitan Municipality "Transport" department, through cameras and specialized software, which automatically checks the databases to determine which car does not meet the requirements for passing and moving through the low-emission zone.
The software for the “small ring“ detects a given vehicle once per day. This is considered a violation.
Our company registers the applications and accompanying documents of citizens who have the right to pass and move in the designated zone with low emissions of harmful substances, regardless of the ecological group of the car.
- Who and how forms the fines and how are they delivered?
- The entire inspection and sanctioning process is carried out by the Metropolitan Inspectorate. They are also the ones who will notify the relevant offender. The owner will receive a message that his vehicle has been detected driving in the prohibited zone and will accordingly be issued with a violation report. If the driver is not from Sofia, these same sanction documents are sent to the relevant mayor of the municipality. He has the obligation by law to notify the offender.
- How do people with disabilities who have such cars get around?
- People who have a card for preferential parking of motor vehicles (note - this is for people with disabilities) have the right to pass and move in the designated zone with low emissions of harmful substances, regardless of the ecological group of the car. The important thing is for them to know that they have to submit an application for this to us in one of our offices.