Bus fine in Pisa and how do I pay it

We bought bus tickets at the tobacco shop at Pisa train station but didn't know we had to validate it as this is not something we do in Canada,

Forget about it, they let you off easy; just remember to be aware of the rules when you go to other countries.

This is a good place to start, I've never used it so I can't give further instruction. https://pisa.multeonline.it/web/polizialocale/benvenuto
I don't see a point in disputing it, not knowing the rules doesn't make you innocent.

Thank you Jazz+Travels & Allan.

@Jazz+Travels, I would love to just forget about it, however this is not something I would like to come back and haunt me later, but thanks for your input.
@Allan, thanks for the link, I will certainly check it out to see if I can pay the fine through that website.

Cheers!

Did they take your contact info?

TBH I have never heard of anyone being let off with a print out of the fines- you got off easy
I’m not sure it will ever come back to haunt you

Thanks for your response ChristineH.

They did take my contact info, even asked me where I was born :) Since I refused to pay them on the spot, I told them I was going to dispute it, so they printed out tickets for all 4 of us.

I am going to use Allan's link to submit my dispute of the tickets asking for them to either throw it out or reduce the $40 Euro each. But as you mentioned ChristineH, I am tempted to just ignore it and see what happens.

On what basis would you dispute the fines? You were riding without a valid ticket.

@Aussie, I know it's going to be an uphill battle to dispute it, however since we did have tickets but did not realize we needed to validate tickets as this is not a requirement in Canada, I am hoping that they would at least reduce the fine since it's 4 people. Fingers crossed.

Seriously?

The fact that you don’t have to validate in Canada is completely irrelevant and not a reason that your fines should be reduced
You were not in Canada, you were in Italy
It is your responsibility to know the rules when you travel abroad.

You got off easy

Agreed ChristineH, however I am still going to appeal it and see what happens and if I have to pay, then I will pay. Don't have a problem with that, but I need to ask first to see what happens. Just maybe, there is someone there who would consider the plea :)

And when you say I got off easy, what exactly do you mean ChristineH? Do you think the fine is supposed to be more than $40 Euros each? Maybe you are more familiar with the process than I am since this was my first time (and last) in Italy.

In your town in Canada you don’t have to validate probably because the ticket is valid only for the ride that you purchase it for. In many places (I not only in Europe), the ticket is valid for (generally) 90 minutes from the time of validation on any buses on the transit system. Validating a ticket (obliterare in Italian) means that you place a date and time on it and the 90 minutes of validity start at the time and date the stamp says. If you were not required to stamp it how would you determine the time the 90 min start?

Regarding the payment of the fine, there are probably instructions on the documents you received from the bus inspectors. You can’t use the link posted by Alan above. That is for traffic fines issued by the Municipal Police of the City of Pisa. Your fine would not have been issued by that authority, but by Autolinee Toscane inspectors.

Thank you for the info Roberto da.

In Toronto, we did have that system a long time ago where a physical transfer was issued by the driver if you needed to ride the bus back within that 90 mins period. It's all on the tap to pay system now which eliminates the need for a transfer or validation and you can transfer within train & bus systems.

Anyway, I am pursuing the request for payment through the Autolinee Toscan system (thanks again for the link Alan!)

The link Alan posted is not the correct link as Roberto has explained

Contactless Tap and go is available in Tuscany on AT buses too (details below) and for those you don’t need to date stamp you just tap when you get on board, but the traditional paper tickets are still in place in Italy primarily for the elderly who may not be as tech savvy (not everybody in that age group has a smartphone). But if you chose the traditional paper ticket then there is no choice but having it time stamped when you board to start the 90 min clock.

https://www.at-bus.it/en/tiptap

Thank you Roberta da for the info.

@ChristineH, I did find the correct website to submit my claim.

Thanks to everyone who assisted me on this. Cheers!