Autolinee Toscane Line 131R — fined after driver gave wrong validation instructions

You MUST validate it at the validation machine when you board (or risk a fine). The tickets don't fit in the validation machine so you have to fold them in half longways.

It’s not anyone else’s fault; you’ve simply got it wrong… and that’s a costly mistake!

The driver told you to fold the ticket in half in line with the instructions written in Italian on the ticket. I suspect he did not realise that you had no idea about the requirement to validate using the machine and therefore he did not give the wrong instructions and it's unfair to falsely accuse him of something when you were the ones in the wrong.

I really don't think you'll get anywhere with your complaints as it was your error. I'd suggest just putting it down to an expensive mistake and move on. If you're going to use public transport in a foreign country then it really is advisable to research the requirements in advance to avoid such costly mistakes.

Just did this route in April. Our train into Florence ran late, we just had time to find our way over into the bus station and see the 131R waiting. As I we started on, I had forgotten about how to tap in with our cards and did not see the reader just inside the door on the left, showed card to driver, he pointed into office. Went in, bought two tickers, which he folded and validated. That did not prevent a long scrutiny from two agents who boarded just before Siena and scrutinized our tickets with an intense scrute before moving on.

Had we tapped in with our cards, I am wondering what we would have had to show the inspector.

Yes, they were within their rights to nail you for the this, but seriously -the driver could have been more helpful and this clearly should not have been a case of getting a tourist tax. This was clearly a misunderstanding and they could have just taken your tickets at that point and punched them, even showing you how. Yes, we should all know the transit rules when we travel. But the penalty ought to be in line with the crime.

Had we tapped in with our cards, I am wondering what we would have had to show the inspector.

Same explanation: "If you're going to use public transport in a foreign country then it really is advisable to research the requirements in advance to avoid such costly mistakes."
If tapping in with your cards, you show your card to the inspector (he will need the last 4 digits).

This was clearly a misunderstanding and they could have just taken your tickets at that point and punched them, even showing you how.

Yeah sure ... an inspector is an inspector, not a teacher or a social worker.

Larry, do You really think drivers and ticket inspectors could believe this story while on the bus: "I thought that validating a ticket means folding it"?

I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't posted on this forum. On the bus I, and everyone else, would think it's yet another tourist trying to ride for free.

The driver, who is not paid to give info and speaks a basic English, thought mika asked how to time-stamp the ticket and 99.9% of people used to the validation system would make the same assumption.

If you think you are going to file an appeal don't pay on the spot. I don't know how can conductors force people to pay since they are not armed and they can't touch anyone. Anyway That's what conductors must say and, if they say the opposite, the EU should fine AT for this reason. Not because their drivers can't read the tourists' minds.

Conductors should say so even when they know an appeal will be rejected for sure and the offender will end up paying 30% more, plus the mailing costs to another country and the administrative fees.

That sounds like the excuse my father (who worked also as an inspector on the Florence bus system) used to hear from hippy American and Northern European students when he caught them without tickets on the buses in the 1970s (at the time you would purchase the ticket on the machine on board of the bus): “we thought buses were free in Italy for students! In our country students don’t pay for buses!”. Yeah right!

My dear Mika, if folding a ticket without date/time stamp was sufficient to validate a ticket, anybody would be able to use the same ticket for multiple rides for multiple days for multiple years. Similar to how it won't work to enter the stadium for multiple games at the World Cup this month.

Before boarding we asked the driver how to validate the ticket. He
told us to fold it in half. We did exactly that.

And then you neglected to actually validate the ticket.

I think we could all do with having a bit more empathy. We all make mistakes, and something that may seem very intuitive to you won't to someone else- and vice-versa. While filing an appeal in this situation may be a bit extreme, I don't think piling on is very helpful or kind. Sometimes in life we have to learn expensive lessons.

I agree with Cat. Yes, empathy. Mika made a mistake and didn't seem to think it was fair, and I get that. It's confusing being in a foreign country and not knowing what's going on. You get a barrage of instructions and they're in a different language and they're very hard to follow. Travelers can't be expected to know it all, and yes, you have to pay the consequences when you don't know.

I'm invoking guideline #9 - to not pile on - as reason to close this thread. I've made a few edits to soften the tone. I know it isn't any one person's fault, but collectively it can be too much. This is something to be mindful of as participants in this forum.

Thank you to mika for sharing as this will no doubt help others. Thanks to others for explaining how this works and where the confusion was, as that will also help others.