Older cars will be banned from Paris as of July

All cars registered before 1997 will be banned in Paris as of July 1st, under a new law aimed at curbing the city's chronic smog and traffic problems. The older cars will be banned from the city center during weekdays, as will all motorcycles registered before 1999.

The ban was announced last year as part of an anti-pollution measure that will become progressively stricter in coming years. By 2020, the ban will extend to cover cars that were registered prior to 2010. Those who violate the rule can face a fine of up to €35 ($39), or €78 as of January 1st, 2017.

The ban on 19-year-old cars will affect around 10 percent of all vehicles in Paris. Environment Minister Ségolène Royal has agreed to a plan that will classify all cars into six categories, based on their pollution levels. Vehicles will be identified by colored stickers placed on their windshields, making it easier for cities to implement traffic restrictions when smog levels spike. The environment ministry had previously pushed for a system based on just four categories, but French mayors contested the plan, calling for a more gradual transition.