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Rome Tram Ticket Fines

Posted by on

I’m traveling around Italy with a friend and we’ve been taking the metro and buses and paying for 24 hour tickets when we need them. We knew we need them validated and to our understanding, you could do so by taking the metro where your ticket would be validated when you went through the ticket gates.

Today I was stopped by a ticket inspector who said my ticket was not validated although I had been using it for several hours at that point on the metro and my friends ticket had been successfully validated using the same metro stations (I should also note that using the ticket let me through the metro station which lead me to believe that it was properly validated). He spoke no English and I was concerned that he was a scammer so I gave him only my drivers license but refused to sign the citation (as I could not read the Italian). After getting my ID back he left angrily without giving me a ticket receipt.

I would like to clear up this problem if I can but I’m not really sure how to without a receipt. I talked to a local and they said that often the metro machines do not validate your ticket correctly and that you need to hand write the time of first travel if the machine doesn’t work properly. This seems kind of ridiculous to know for a tourist. I had paid for a valid ticket and I had believed that it was validated but now am getting potentially fined over $100 for a faulty metro machine

Does anyone know how I might be able to resolve this? I travel away from Rome in the morning and would like it settled as soon as possible

Thanks

Posted by
1662 posts

Hi ro,

Transit Inspectors are increasing their presence on buses, and most likely the metro too.

I had an incident in Rome, where I got on, and found the machine was invalid. I didn't know what to do either. Besides myself, a few others got on at the same stop. We tried to get the attention of the bus driver, but he was busy pulling away from the curb.

About two (2) or three (3) stops down, our bus was stopped. Transit Inspectors boarded; asked passengers to have their tickets/passes ready for inspection. When it came my turn, I had who seemed to be the "lead guy." I explained to him about the machine. I also told him there were a few others who had the same problem. He had me wait, then took me aside, and told me/showed me what to do in the event that I come across a non working validation machine. He did not ask for my ID or PP. I got no fine, nothing to sign. Perhaps in my case, because it was obvious to check the machine was invalid.

The Inspector told me pretty much (more details) what you were told - On the back of your ticket, write the Stop you got on, the Time, and the Bus # (ex. 64). And, if possible, he told me, write down the Bus' ID # found on the outside back of the bus.

Machines break down. Tickets get demagnetized. Things happen. We can tell the truth; hopefully show proof and go from there. I guess it's good to carry two or three BITs.

Posted by
3112 posts

When properly validated, Rome's 24, 48 and 72-hour transit passes will clearly show the printed validation and the time the pass expires. If it doesn't, try running it through again or use a different machine. You are also required to write your name and date of birth on the pass, as it's non-transferable, although I've only seen ticket inspectors remind people of this requirement rather than fining them. If all else fails, manually validate the pass as described above. Ultimately it's the ticket holder's responsibility to make sure they have a properly validated transit pass or ticket.

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