My husband received a ticket while we were there slightly over a year ago. The ticket is vague with details. This is a rental car and we had to leave our keys with the front desk while it was at the hotel. My question is how do I verify this was us with the infraction? Also how do I verify this is a legit citation?
Posted by
Cesena, Italy
791 posts
I've been doing a little research into this subject. Alot of people will probably disagree and you'll get different opinions. I'm not a lawyer and haven't had to put this to the test (yet!!) but this is my understanding of things. I'm assuming this is ZTL type ticket. 1- You must be PROPERLY notified. This means being notified in your native language and with supporting documentation such as a snapshot of your license plate with date, time and location. 2- You must be PROMPTLY notified by registered mail within 360 days (for foriegners, different limits apply to EU members and Italian citizens) and that is FROM THE DATE OF THE INFRACTION....not whenever the Italian authorites decide to check with the rental company on your details. 3-They must demonstrate that proper signage was in place. 4- You have the right to reply, in your own language, that you do not understand what the ticket is for and request supporting documentation. UNTIL YOU HAVE RECIEVED THIS THE 360 DAY CLOCK IS STILL RUNNING. You stated that the ticket was a little over a year ago so that right there would make it invalid. I would simply write back stating that that the ticket is not legit because of that. If your credit card has been charged I would fight it. I'm guessing some will say that you broke the law and it was your responsibility to obey it even though your a tourist. Same applies to the Italian authorities.....they are bound by the same law. BTW- You probably got the ticket from a collection agency. There seems to be some debate also about wether or not this company even has the right/proper licensing to even collect in the US.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32834 posts
Ron Where does the law say it has to be in the native language of the person driving the car? How would they know what language that is? Say its a car from Belgium. Do they have to guess whether to write in Flemish or French? Unless, of course, it a person from the German speaking area. But what if their native language is Polish and they just happen to live in Hasselt? How will anybody know they have to send a ticket to Belgium in Polish?
Posted by
Cesena, Italy
791 posts
Well, meaning if you're from the US- English, Germany - German. Yeah, didn't put that the best way.