Do French Cities Have the Equivalent of the Dreaded ZTLs?

Pretty much any European city has a "ZTL", i.e. a zone where vehicular traffic is severely limited. Signage will be very similar everywhere: the international symbol for no vehicular traffic - a circle with a red rim.

However, the differences are in the way they are enforced. The dreaded ones in Italy enforce them by satellite and huge fines. Most other cities will have pretty much nothing beyond the sign or something like pillars that make entry more difficult.

I'd say the simple answer is: not really.

There are pedestrian zones in some cities/towns, formerly roads for cars that have been converted to pedestrian zones. If vehicles aren't allowed it will be marked with the international no entry sign. Not a problem.

Your question asked if there are the equivalent of the dreaded Italian ZTL's that results in €100 fines in the mail, and none of that has been reported on these pages.

For what it's worth, this sort of income generator is becoming more and more popular in Spain, especially Catalonia. The entire Barcelona metropolitan area is now 80km/h (50mph). Anybody who fails to take this seriously will get an expensive reminder of his vacation in the mail some weeks later. The same is true for mobile radar cameras on highways, frequently just after the transition from 120km/h highway speed to 50km/h entrance to a town.

Roy,

What I have noticed in some French cities (including Arles) are Bollards to enforce pedestrian zones in some cities. The most common form is a simple round metal structure that is deployed hydraulically in the center of the road. Delivery trucks and other authorized vehicles have a remote control to retract these. Here's a photo of one in Arles.

I was there a month or so ago, but didn't notice any "ZTL" zones (although I wasn't looking for them). However, there were A LOT of toll booths on the motorways!

Happy travels!