Shanghai bans heavy polluting vehicles from downtown

Heavy polluting, high-emission vehicles - those that can't meet China's lowest level of National Emission Standards - are now banned from downtown Shanghai in an effort to create better air quality in time for the Expo. There are about 200,000 of these cars and trucks in the city and they generate about 50% of all vehicular emissions while accounting for only 14% the total of local vehicles. Violators will be fined 200RMB and lose two points off their license. The city started banning high-emission cars from the Inner Ring Road area in 2006. The new ban extends to the Middle Ring Road - including lanes on the Yan'an, North-South and Humin highways.