Traffic Violation from 4 years ago

If you never received a notice from the rental company (along with the €40-50 ding on your credit card), and never received the ticket from the Italian enforcement agency (which ever one it was), then I'd just ignore it. But I'd check your credit card records to double check that. But that's just me.

Thanks. That's why I thought it was strange because usually they just bill the rental agency and they charge me. I just checked my credit report and I don't see it on either three so I think I will just ignore it unless they send me an official ticket

If the collections company that sent you the notice is an American company and is regularly engaged in the collection of debts they are likely covered by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and are required to provide you with proof of the debt upon request. Even if they are not covered by the Act, or it is not a covered debt they probably will provide you with the information anyways.

Is there a statute of limitations?

Like was earlier said, the rental card company will charge your card for $40-50 administration fees. And just before one year after your visit, you will get a certified letter from the city directly in most situations. They will give you a bank and routing number to send the fine into, and they're going to request the funds to be in Euros. There are online payment services that can charge your credit card in dollars and wire transfer the funds on your behalf in Euros--for a fair price.
We didn't know that the causeway going over to Venice had radar cameras. They got me going 36.9 mph approx., 1.8 mph over the speed limit. There is no variance. I just paid the ticket through a payment service and went along my way. No use complaining.

It also strikes me that this might be a scam. Is there anything on the letter about how to pay? A website or anything?

It's very odd that you're receiving this four years after the offenses allegedly occurred. Was the notice from an Italian traffic authority or a U.S. collection agency? What contact information or payment instructions did they provide?

I believe Italian traffic fines have to be collected within one year from the offense, but perhaps someone else can confirm that. In the same situation, I'd be asking for further details. I wouldn't pay anything until it was clear what I was paying for.

Collection agencies buy alleged debt for pennies and hope to find someone who will take the threat seriously. Don't respond or provide any information, even in protest, or it will encourage them.

Is there a statute of limitations?

Yes, it's five years from the moment you receive the fine via registered letter. Italian cops have one year to send that registered letter from the moment they receive the offender's name & address from the rental company.

Note that it's One year when the offender is not an EU citizen, they have 90 if he/she lives in a Member State.

Unless you have moved house, The all story seems a scam to me. Since you did not receive any notification, you were not given the means to file an appeal, "confess & pay" with a 30% discount, know where/when/by-who you were fined. All rights granted by Italian law.

For instance, there are decisions from the Court of Cassation regarding ZTL and speed traps saying that authorities MUST let the offender see the photos if he/she wants to, otherwise the fine is void. You did not even know you were fined!

Sounds scam-ish to me.

If you have moved or similar situation where it is reasonable that you may have been a little difficult to track down the following 6 months or so after your trip then I would not dismiss it out of hand.
If you have not moved and your information is the same now as it was for your trip time, then I would definitely toss it in the garbage and not contact whomever sent it to you.

Don’t pay. This is likely a collection agency, but if you were never notified of the fine, they have no legs to stand on. Ignore them and eventually they’ll stop. But monitor your credit with the 3 Main credit bureaus to make sure they don’t try to pull a fast one on your credit. If they do, you have reason to ask for removal.

Thanks for all the replies.

The situation is that when I was in Italy I was living on a. Reservation, three months later I moved into an apartment, then rented a house a year after that and I recently purchased a home in January. So maybe that’s how they found me.

Since the letter seemed legit and it requested that I despute the fine or they would consider it valid. I called the company and asked them to send evidence of the violation including the ticket, pictures of the license plate. It’s been so long that I want to confirm with the rental company what my plate number was then I want to confirm that I was actually in an illegal area and then I think I will pay it.

I don’t want to because it’s been so long but if I broke the law I think it’s the right thing to do I will just be giving them a very hard time since it’s been so long.