Environment· Published on September 9, 2026
Drought: Environmental Police Start Fining, Up to €1,500 for Washing a Car
Corrèze has been under drought crisis level for about two weeks, a sign of how severe the situation is this year. After a fortnight of dialogue and awareness-raising, the French Biodiversity Office, France's environmental police force, is now issuing fines. Washing vehicles is banned for private individuals, including at car wash stations, with use restricted to urgent professional and sanitary needs in order to preserve water resources. Offenders face fines of up to €1,500, and around fifteen procedures have already been launched this summer.