Another ugly tourist move in Florence Italy!

Oh my! Well he says he didn't know it was the bridge and I can KIND OF understand that although surely on the approach to the bridge he could see the river on either side?

Interesting about the IDP fine as well.

What a fool.

Stupid is as stupid does.

Mostly likely he’ll brag about it as well.

Anyone check tic tock or youtube for a video?

How much should he tip on that €500 fine?

unbelievable

Not really the first time.

This is the one mentioned in the OP reported in Florence's newspaper:
https://www.lanazione.it/firenze/cronaca/auto-ponte-vecchio-1.8482924

This one in June 2019. A foreign tourist (nationality not revealed in the article):
https://www.lanazione.it/firenze/cronaca/auto-ponte-vecchio-1.4635315

This one in May 2019. A German tourist aboard a Lamborghini.
https://www.lanazione.it/firenze/cronaca/multa-auto-ponte-vecchio-1.4576823

This one in January 2019. A guy from Pisa, I guess intent in raging a war against the rivals Florentines.
https://www.lanazione.it/firenze/cronaca/entra-auto-pontevecchio-1.4394750

By the way the fine is normally 83 euro. The one yesterday got the extra fine for driving without an IDP, which is mandatory in Italy, unless one has a EU license.

If he had followed our Forum's advice of getting an IDP, he would have saved quite a bit of money as the fine would have been only 83 euro (about 90 USD)

The same thing happened in 2019 when a German tourist drove halfway across the bridge by mistake. However, he was only fined €83. I wonder why the American had to pay so much more. Inflation? :) https://www.magentaflorence.com/tourist-drives-onto-ponte-vecchio/

Roberto just answered my question about the difference in fines - thanks!

Foreign countries, unfamiliar cars, possibly some tension between the drivers seat and passenger. Without anything pointing to a bad intention, I feel for the driver.

Never to such outcomes, but I’ve certainly made embarrassing wrong turns driving— I’d bet most of us have.

Clueless? Absolutely.
Ugly? Doesn't read as though it was intentional so probably not.
As was mentioned, the fun hasn't ended yet - stand by for a handful of ZTL citations over the next several months.

Everybody please bookmark this thread for the next "do I need an IDP" thread.

good one roubrat

…and one more reason to just take the train to Florence. Yes, those ZTL fines are going to add up!

Think of all of the great food he could have enjoyed for that €500, instead! : (

Further reinforcement of the stupidity of renting a car in a city. We should all save that story to post when people plan to rent a car and go to Florence.

Take a look on street view on Google Maps - you can't see the river and there is a nondescript pedestrian area sign at both ends of the bridge. It could be marked a little better!

So much for the geniuses who resist getting an IDP for a lousy $20

By the way the fine is normally 83 euro. The one yesterday got the extra fine [500 Euro] for driving without an IDP, which is mandatory in Italy, unless one has a EU license.

but haven't we been told over and over that nobody has ever been penalized for not having an IDP??? And haven't we been told over and over that US state drivers licenses are enough now that they look like European ones?? I wonder what happened?? Oh dear.

The minimum fine for not having an IDP is 408 euro.

Once you add the 83 euro for violating the pedestrian zone on the bridge, you have 491 euro fine, plus possibly some little admin. fees.

The IDP is not needed if you never get pulled over by police. But if you do get pulled by police, you will probably get a fine.

They should put spikes on that road, but they can't because police, emergency vehicles and delivery vehicles (during certain hours) are authorized to drive on the bridge.

It’s a miracle no one was injured.

Perhaps the city will install some automatic retractable bollards.
I’ve seen these in other Italian cities.

I suppose this is one consequence of not doing adequate research before travelling in a foreign country. Obviously he hadn't checked the RS Italy guidebook or checked the forum ;-)

@dplaunderville, I agree to some extent. Every time I hear about someone getting big fines for smuggling fruit or doing something not allowed, I assume it's because they pissed off the inspectors with their attitude. Every person charged with enforcing rules has "enforcement discretion" but they don't have to be lenient.

@stan - Presumptively blaming the attitude for the perpetrator for the level of “enforcement discretion” a gross fallacy. We need only read today’s news out of Memphis to be reminded why.