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Avoiding traffic fines in Italy

Those who rent cars in Italy should be aware of the danger of driving in any Italian cities. Most cities now have "traffic restriction" zones which you cannot enter without a special permit. Rental cars are not included. Very often, by the time you see the warning sign (presuming it is visible in the first place), it is TOO LATE to turn around. (Cynics might wonder if this is an accident). In any event, when you proceed, you are photographed and a ticket is automatically generated and forwarded to the company from which you rented the car. That company is required to provide the driver's name and address to the city, (in fact the rental companies are very happy to do so because they levy their own charges in the process). Then, sometime in the next year (in my case, it was nine months) you receive a direct notice from an Italian city demanding about 80 euros which must be paid within five days. The ONLY way to pay the fine is to arrange a telegraphic transfer of Euros to an Italian bank. This can be done at a cost of another $30 to $50 USD, depending on the fees at your local bank. If you do NOT pay the amount within five days, then the amount is increased by about 30 per cent (in my case, to 104 euros). If you do NOT pay the amount within 60 days, the amount is increased to 185 euros.

And, if you do not pay the fine, you can presume that the city will eventually direct the rental car company (which, remember, profits handsomely from this entire process), to charge it to your credit card along with whatever fees it deems reasonable.

In some cases, the city will not bother to communicate with you personally, but will bill the amount directly to the rental car company, which, in turn, will charge it to your credit card. (Don't bother cancel your credit card, as the bank will track you down and extract it from one account or another). It should be noted that the Italian national government wants to support its cities anyway it can, and so it has adopted a law giving the cities a full year in which to pursue offenders. Drivers should also be aware that the same method of fine collection applies to parking violations and to speed cameras (which are now operational throughout Europe, but are particularly common it Italy).

My advice: Next time, take the train.

Posted by
7533 posts

Yes, a topic that has unfortunately been discussed here all too often as people get "stung". Yes, many agree, the train is not a bad option in Italy, not only because of ZTLs, but parling, high tolls, and the need for expensive insurance coverage, due to being unable to use Credit Card coverage in Italy.

I am curious though, you mentioned your rental company charged you for providing authorities with your information, this is typical, but did they eventually charge your credit card for the actual fine? This would be a new twist, usually the rental companies stay out of that.

I might also disagree with your observation about Italy passing a law allowing collection for up to a year...unfortunately, I think that only applies to EU member residents. as a US or Canadian citizen, I think they can pursue you indefinitely, there have even been some reports of the Italian recovery companies using American collection agencies.

Posted by
1840 posts

Fine advice, but there seems to be some slow learners.

Posted by
7049 posts

Don't bother cancel your credit card, as the bank will track you down and extract it from one account or another

What legal - and practical - way do they have to debit another account if the credit card has either been closed or expired? I'm having a hard time imagining this. After reading several postings on this topic, I'm totally sold on not renting a car in Italy (except for small villages).

Posted by
10344 posts

Quote from the OP:
"My advice: Next time, take the train."

Yes, that's the advice often given on this Forum:
In Italy, if the train goes where you want to go, take the train. If the train don't go where you want to go, rent a car.

Posted by
7533 posts

In response to Agnes, when you rent a car and use a credit card, the papers you sign basically say that you are liable for any other charges that may occur related to that transaction, fines and tickets being one of those.

Since the card is in effect for the rental, cancelling does not get you out of the obligation, the credit card company can still process charges related to that transaction and make you pay.

However, in Italy at least and many other locales, the rental agency simply turns your information over (name, license, address, no CC info) at a cost to you (40-50 euro), the OP is not clear if the rental car company later charged his card for the fine. As I said, this would be a new twist.

Posted by
7049 posts

the rental agency simply turns your information over (name, license, address, no CC info) at a cost to you (40-50 euro)

My question is still...by what conduit do they find you in the US? I guess people just pay when they receive the letters since they have your address, but do the Italian authorities (cities, admin offices, etc) actually work with DMVs or collection agencies or anybody in the US that has real leverage over you? Or is it simply the threat of more fees dumped on top of the fine that works just as well to get the fines collected? If only this worked as well in obtaining child support payments (although I guess they are garnished from wages but it's not fast or easy)...

Posted by
7026 posts

Actually there have been several posts on here stating that Italian authorities are now turning over unpaid traffic fines to American collection agencies. Don't know for sure if this is correct because I don't know anyone personally that has had this happen to them. Also don't know the time frame involved - maybe after a year? I just know that when you get stung the best thing to do is pay the fine and not worry about how they intend to collect if you don't. There could be other repercussions.

Posted by
4535 posts

In reply to Agnes:

The rental agency turns over your contact information to the authorities. When you rent their car, you provide them with your drivers license info and home address, etc... They charge you an administrative fee each and every time they do this (so multiple ZTL infractions will mean multiple fees). The authorities have up to a year to send you the actual ticket.

If you rent a car, you are legally bound by the rental contract. Within that contract is a provision that allows them to charge your card for all legitimate extra costs and fees. Cancelling your card does not prevent them from making legitimate charges even after the fact. Your card issuer would simple send you a bill.

Failure to pay consequences are often debated here. There have been more recent reports (the last year or so) that debt collection agencies have gotten involved. But mostly it is the ethics of paying for your mistakes.

Posted by
32201 posts

The usual "routine" seems to be that the car rental agency will charge an "administrative fee" for supplying information on the renter who incurred the violations. Following that the ticket for the actual fine is sent by European Municipality Outsourcing, which usually takes six months or longer. Multiple offenses mean multiple tickets. Every rental firm I've ever dealt with asks to see my Driver's License, and that has my home address listed on it so it's not too hard to figure out where to send the fine.

This website has lots of information on the subject.....

http://www.bella-toscana.com/traffic_violations_italy.htm#.VXctoud_ju0

Happy motoring!

Posted by
2297 posts

After driving through Italy for 3 weeks, I thought it was the most stressful driving experience I've ever had in Europe. And I grew up in Germany, got my licence there, and drove in about 10 different European countries!

However, avoiding the ZTLs was one of the easier tasks. You simply keep on look out for this "no entry" sign and stay out of those streets.

http://tinyurl.com/qjtq8tl

Even if you see other vehicles entering this street, they probably fall under some exception that. in all likelihood, does not apply to you. Those exceptions are usually posted under the main sign but if you want to be on the safe side don't bother deciphering them and simply stay away.

Posted by
8135 posts

I can deal with ZTL's, as they're not hard to spot. I just stay away from City Centers.

It's those robot camera radars on the causeway going out to Venice that got me--1.8 mph over the speed limit. There is no 5 mph "grace" there on tickets, either. What really gets me is there is nothing and nobody on that road--just a jetty with 4 lanes built on top.
A European bill payment service wire transferred the $155 equivalent in Euros to the City of Venice's checking account for a fair price.

Posted by
1188 posts

Italy sets up radar cameras on their highways. They take a photo of your plate at different locations over a stretch on the highway and their computer system calculates your average speed. If your average speed exceeds the posted limit, you will be ticketed. Therefore even if you detect the camera and hit the brakes to slow down before the photo is taken, you will still get a ticket if your average speed was too fast. This would be very bad for a chronic speeder like me who just relies on avoiding speed traps.

Posted by
12040 posts

I'm hoping and praying for radar cameras in the US!

Posted by
10344 posts

Post from Beatrix:
"After driving through Italy for 3 weeks, I thought it was the most stressful driving experience I've ever had in Europe.:

Yes, Beatrix, there are people here who would agree with you.
I'm one of them.
Second most stressful was driving in the UK (was going to Cotswolds).