I'm a Canadian who visited Italy in October 2016. I rented a car. In April, 2017, I received two speeding tickets totalling 461 Euros, ($688 Canadian.) I paid the fines online, and the message on the website of the Firenze police said the matter was now closed. However, a printed form that arrived with the tickets wants me to fill out who was driving, and send them a copy of my driver's licence. I am not planning to do this. I would never send a photo copy of my driver's licence to anyone in this day and age.
Are there any consequences of doing this?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12113 posts
Perhaps its a matter of whoever is in charge of mailing stuff was unaware you took care of it online.
Can you contact them through the website to see if its just a matter of snail mail being behind what happened electronically.
I wouldnt completely ignore it, but I have no idea what consequences would ensue if you fail to respond. Do they put you on a list with passport control so next time you try to enter they take some action then. Who knows
Seems odd they would ask for a copy, as they already have your contact info which undoubtedly came from the renal agency which has your license info .
Posted by
Portsmouth
5579 posts
I suspect that it's someone simply going through the motions and requesting your licence in order to add points to it. Of course being Canadian they can't add points to your licence.
Personally I'd ignore, you've paid your fine and that's the end. I've received fines in the post from Spain and Austria but never a request for my licence, I'm guessing that the person (or computer) that sent the request was not aware that you were not an Italian national.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32402 posts
Thanks for sharing this. This is a good reminder of the potentially expensive "caveats" that can occur when driving in Italy. Hopefully you won't be receiving any more tickets.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
If the letter was written in Italian JC is right, it's just a computer that made a mistake. They need to know who was actually driving for the points system, but you should hold an Italian driving license to be subject to it.
If it's written in English it's strange, translating something in English takes time and money and you don't do it by mistake. Why not asking them? I can't see any problem in making a question. I'd write to the email address that replied to your payments.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16231 posts
They request that info from Italian drivers to remove points from the license.
Italians are awarded 20 points for their DL. For every infraction they deduct points (1 to 10 per infraction according to the gravity of the infraction) then when you run out of points, your DL is suspended for a certain amount of time. Then you start all over again.
If they insist they want a copy of the license, send them a copy of some old person's license who doesn't drive anymore and is now in some residential facility. A dead relative's license works just as well. Just tell them s/he was driving in Florence at the time.