The tightening of the Low Emission Zones in Portugal’s capital last week has created an unmissable opportunity for the Municipal Police to fine motorists in older vehicles who had strayed into the city's new forbidden zone.
Such has been the zeal of the roadside officers that questions have been raised in the Lisbon council chamber as to their real operational objectives - fines or advice on the new scheme?
The 'supervisory action' was mainly on the Avenida da Liberdade, admitted the commander of the Municipal Police, André Gomes, who said he would publish results of his officers' work, at a later date.
The first restricted zone was introduced in July 2011 to reduce vehicle emission pollution in the city. The widening of the zone was implemented in 2012 and the third began last week. Cars registered before the year 2000 are banned from the city on weekdays between 7am and 9pm.
The police inspections have been criticised by Lisbon Councillor João Gonçalves Pereira as a 'mega stop operation using a large force."
"What was a good environmental initiative has become a truly unbelievable hunt for fines in Lisbon, much of which has not yet become aware of the new measures," said Pereira who criticised Lisbon council for not introducing a transitional period.
The councilor appealed to the president of the municipality, António Costa, to keep the new emission rules but for the police to stop hunting fines and to turn the current operation into an awareness campaign.
The social democrats in Lisbon council went one step further and, knowing full well the answer, asked if there were any “studies showing a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, and in what quantities" and the "social impact of the measure."
If there are no studies, the councillors said that the council should lift restrictions on the movement of older vehicles.
The police caught most drivers in the Avenida da Liberdade, the Cais Sodré, Restauradores Square and Ribeira das Naus Avenue but have declined polite requests to say how many were fined for being in the wrong place in the wrong vehicle.
Emergency vehicles, vehicles driven by registered disabled drivers, LPG powered vehicles, police cars, military transport, prisoner transport, armoured vans for the transport of money, and motorcycles are all allowed anywhere they choose.
The elephant in the room is Lisbon airport where aircraft land or take off over the city centre every day of the year, belching out their emissions into the Lisbon air.
Any improvement in air quality due to vehicle movement restrictions may be insignificant while the airport remains unregulated.
