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Driving

Posted by (Los Angeles) on

Not to start a flame war, since this is a very "popular" topic, but just putting this out there. I watch a British vlogger who lives in Positano (cleverly named Nicki Positano) and she was driving home for the holidays. As she neared the French border the Italian authorities stopped her and asked for her documents. She and her husband in the car with her indicated that it's not unusual these days for the Italians to stop cars and set up checkpoints, it's wasn't clear why but my guesses would be a) drugs and b) immigration.

She also didn't indicate what documents she handed over but keep in mind that if you don't have an IDP, you could be in for a long roadside stay. Cops out on their own have quite a bit of discretion and can interpret laws in interesting ways.

Posted by
3812 posts

why but my guesses would be a) drugs and b) immigration

Sorry to disappoint you, but my less exciting guess would be they were getting close to the Mont Blanc tunnel (or some mountain pass still open) in Winter during a storm... with " NA " printed on their plate.

I may add that it's the French police that checks cars at the border to block illegal immigration from Italy. Italian cops have nothing against letting these people reach their final destinations, as far from Italy as possible,

Posted by
872 posts

Without an IDP one may not even get a car, and if there is an accident the insurance may be void. A simple process to get one. Only traveling in France not needed.

Posted by
4874 posts

what does NA on the plate mean? This was an Italian registered car BTW.

And just as a point of interest, her main concern was that at the beginning of the new year her British DL would no longer be valid in Italy because of Brexit, apparently that was resolved at the very last minute.

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