Hello all, I just recently learned that I have been sent several notices in the US from the florence police department about some traffic violations made during my trip to Florence in June 2022 while I was in a rental car. This was sent to an old address of mine and I just recently learned of it, unfortunately I don't have a way of getting the letters as they were thrown out. I sent an email to the rental car company to see if they can help. I don't want this to impede my credit or ability to travel/rent a car in Italy in the future. I live in the USA. Please inform me which agency I can contact for more information. Should I go directly to the florence police department? If so how? Again, I was being sent this to an old address so I am trying to right my wrongs now
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7187 posts
Welcome to the forum!
This topic comes up now and then
Please do a search of this forum
Be sure to filter by Type and Date
If it’s been 2 years you basically have nothing to worry about, admirable that you want to pay but at this point not a problem anymore. It will not affect your credit card or future rental ability
You may have been charged an administrative fee by the rental agency at the time ( when they gave your info to police)
ETA
Here is a recent discussion
Pay attention to what Roberto says
Posted by
Maryland
10 posts
I have some outstanding tickets from 2022 as well, Florence and Siena area. I wouldn't worry about it, I received the notices a few months after the trip and haven't heard or received anything since. Hopefully that will alleviate a bit of worry for you.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33887 posts
if they have been chasing you for a year and they have a year after getting your information this may well still be live.
You'll know when the rental gave your details to the police because of all the mysterious 40€ or 50€ charges which had appeared on your credit card - one charge for each offence.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33887 posts
I didn't realize there are so many scofflaws in the RS crowd.
Would you expect Italian tourists in your town to ignore tickets there?
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7187 posts
The OP did not know she/he had received the tickets until just recently. As I said very admirable wanting to pay them now.
The above poster sounds like he/she did know and ignored them.
I didn't realize there are so many scofflaws in the RS crowd. Would
you expect Italian tourists in your town to ignore tickets there?
Blows my mind.
We've driven in Italy several times- no tickets.
Got a ticket in Germany- arrived a few weeks after the trip, so we just paid it. No big deal. Just like at home- if you get a ticket you either pay or contest it.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7977 posts
Leaving prohibition era terms out of it (scofflaw!) and broad brush generalities,
as far as I can see it is the Florence Municipal Police (my browser automatically translates the page from Italian to English)- https://poliziamunicipale.comune.fi.it/come_fare/multa.html
Posted by
Chicago
2086 posts
I didn't realize there are so many scofflaws in the RS crowd.
Would you expect Italian tourists in your town to ignore tickets
there?
Yet, you still hang with us. Didn't expect you to be so cheeky, Nige...
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16080 posts
Scofflaws?
Most Italians would consider those who refuse to pay traffic fines in Florence resistance fighters or freedom fighters, like Fleximan
Posted by
Maryland
10 posts
Never been called a scofflaw, but I'll wear it with dignity.
The Florence ticket was after the hotel I was staying at insisted I could drive through the ZTL as long as my license plate was registered with them, which I did, which didn't matter apparently.
The other ticket was from somewhere in the Siena region between Pienza and San Quirico D'Orcia at a one lane bridge with a red light that was taking too long to turn green at around 11pm. I could clearly see 200' in front of me that nobody was near approaching, so I went. Pretty mild infraction considering driving in Italy almost requires being somewhat aggressive.
I broke more traffic laws driving 15 minutes in Palermo than two weeks on mainland, and I was just following the flow of the locals.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you all for your reply. I sent an email to the rental car agency to see if they can help...but it sounds like most of you are saying not to worry. My biggest worry is they will try to impact my credit, as we want to buy a house and car soon. I have no idea how to find out if this went to a collection agency.
Posted by
Maryland
10 posts
I'm with the poster above, it's admirable you want to pay, if you feel like it's the best thing for you than that's great.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16080 posts
Check your credit now. However since 2015 credit bureaus do not report debts based on traffic tickets.
While a debt for a traffic citation can be pursued by the issuer of the citation or by their assigned debt collector, I don't think it can be included in any credit report issued any any of the big-3 CRAs.
This is the result of a 2015 settlement agreement reached between the offices of the AG of multiple states and the big-3 CRAs, it was stipulated and agreed that debts that are not based on any contract/agreement entered into by the consumer cannot be included in any credit report issued by the big-3 CRAs. That specifically includes government fines and ticket violations.
Read also the article below in regard to traffic tickets and credit score. But be warned, the article below mentions again the word 'scofflaws', which apparently is becoming popular in this thread.
https://www.consumerreports.org/credit-scores-reports/credit-score-myths-what-hurts-you-what-doesnt/