Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

What will happen if I do not pay the penalty of ATAF bus in Florence

What will happen if I do not pay the penalty of ATAF bus in Florence

Old Aug 21st, 2011, 03:14 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What will happen if I do not pay the penalty of ATAF bus in Florence

What will happen if I do not pay the ATAF Florence bus fine?

Today I boarded the bus. I did not validate my bus ticket because I was not sure if an inspector will show up. When suddenly an inspector boarded the bus, I went to validate my ticket right away and he saw me saying that I validated my ticket too late saying that I had the intention of saving it for later, so he gave me a penalty ticket (55 Eu) and wanted a document (no document=police station). So I showed a photocopy of my passport and he wrote my name, birthdate and passport numbers. But I gave a bogus address here in Florence.

The thing is, I am leaving the country in a week for good, and I was wondering if I could get away with it? My concern is that if I don't pay the fine, they might put my name in the European Union Database or something, so that the next time I ever enter the EU (and doesn't matter which country), or Italy, I might be asked at the airport to pay a fine because I owe the country of Italy or something, or get whisked away by the police!!! I am also afraid that they might find my address in my home country, and mail a threatening letter... Oh what should I do???

I wonder if ATAF even puts the names of people in the government database or something. I wonder if Italian computer systems are integrated that way. It is 2011 and they may be more modern now... Some ppl say that usually non-residents should not bother paying the fine because they never bother chasing ppl outside the country. But I really don't know. I am just worried. Oh what Irony! After living here in Florence for almost 4 years as a student.. this has to happen before I actually leave for good! But I do have intentions of coming back for sure. I am just worried..

Does anybody have an experience like this? Did anybody encounter problems at airports during border control? HELP!
Tweeny is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 03:28 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>

So you were planning to cheat from the start, if an inspector didn't show up?

I don't think there's any such thing as The European Database, but I think you deserve the fine and ought to pay it.
StCirq is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 03:28 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I did not validate my bus ticket because I was not sure if an inspector will show up.

You decided to gamble and lost and now you want us to help you? You'll get no sympathy from this corner.
Michael is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 03:33 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Looks like the first three repliers agree completely!. You tried, you lost, pay up. It's a tough lesson, but it DOES sound as though you were trying to cheat. Maybe you should just think: "only E55 in four whole years! Lucky me!"
taconictraveler is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 03:36 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How many times did you try this scheme and get away with it in 4 years?
StCirq is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 03:36 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,831
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
they'll throw you in prison when they get you at the airport.

It isn't irony, it is karma.
Christina is online now  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 03:44 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,396
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You will be locked in a cell with Amanda Knox, and then transferred to a Turkish prison.
DonTopaz is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 03:54 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just for everyone's information: I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT THE MONTHLY BUS PASS, I have been honest all through the years. It was just this month as a student I've been short and lacking funds that's why I decided to gamble just one bus ride. I've been walking pretty much ever since the beginning of the month when I no longer could afford the monthly bus pass.

I was hoping for a more objective response in this forum regarding Italy and the EU system.
Tweeny is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 04:01 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,607
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
"I was hoping for a more objective response" - excuse me? You want us to be "objective" about cheating/illegal behavior, when you seem to equate "objective" with "condone"? And after insulting us by suggesting that we would also cheat? "Does anybody have an experience like this?"

I think you're in the wrong place. Again.
thursdaysd is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 04:04 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,549
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
"I was hoping for a more objective response in this forum regarding Italy and the EU system."

They seemed pretty objective to me.

You gambled. You lost. Pay up.

It isn't like you didn't know the rules - you've been there for years. Besides, what difference does it make what a Fodorite thinks/says -- it is the Italian authorities who matter.
janisj is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 04:22 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a fantastically funny story along the lines of this posting. --I was in Naples, on a bus which was very crowded. A young woman, probably a high school girl, somehow got into a very heated argument with an older gent. It got to be pretty raucous and noisy. The bus driver intelligently pulled over to the side and waved to a policeman. The cop spoke to the driver, and then announced for everyone on board to show their cancelled tickets. You should have seen the MASS exodus from that bus as practcally everyone scrambled out of the bus. I was the only passenger left on board, and the cop, driver and I had a great laugh!
Waldo is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 04:46 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Because this is a legal matter I am not asking for advice as to whether I should pay it or not. I AM only asking for information about what happens when someone doesn't pay such a ticket.
Tweeny is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 05:09 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Um, you tried to cheat and you were caught. You do the crime you do the time. Pay the fine, have a clear conscience and don;t worry what will happen the next time you try to get into Schengen.

And perhaps this will be a lesson in perspective. How much did you save by cheating on the bus fare?? Versus the 55 euros you have to pay now?
nytraveler is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 05:48 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,642
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes on 1 Post
You did the crime, pay the fine.
joannyc is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 06:04 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I’ll leave the “did the crime, pay the fine” comments, which are fair enough.

Think about this: You can decide to NOT pay the fine, and have that horrible feeling of uncertainty in your stomach when you next visit the Schengen area.

Or you can pay 55 euro, and be relaxed next time you offer up your passport at immigration when entering Schengen.

Only my opinion, but I think that I would pay the 55 euro – about the same cost as a taxi from downtown Rome to the airport.
Peter_S_Aus is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 06:41 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is it worth finding out what happens? Just pay the money, and call it a lesson learned.
CharlotteJ is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 07:38 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can't answer your question and doubt that anyone on this board really can (probably only an employee of the ATAF could accurately tell you what happens in a circumstance like this. Or can you ask someone locally?). But agree that it's worth paying the fine so you have no worries when you return to Florence next--and don't forget to include this during your next confession ;-) I know it's a lot of money for a student, but if it were me I'd try to find a way.
Sidny is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2011, 11:05 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As a former police officer (in the US), my guess is that you can get away without paying. It is not as if you are a serious felon--you didn't validate a bus ticket--the equivalent of a minor misdemeanor in the US (i.e.,not punishable by jail). On a scale of 1 to 10 in police priorities, that's about a -20.

Granted, it's Italy, not the US, and of course the right thing to do is pay it. But I doubt that such petty crimes are entered into a database, and if police start detaining people at airports for such minor offenses, they wouldn't have time to do anything else. If you can squeeze the money out of your budget, then pay it. If not, then I wouldn't sweat it.
walkabout is offline  
Old Aug 22nd, 2011, 12:01 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,254
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You get a free "Ugly American" badge.
chartley is offline  
Old Aug 22nd, 2011, 12:37 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,863
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tweeny said, " that's why I decided to gamble just one bus ride."

So you knew it was a gamble Tweeny. Well, gamblers either win or lose. You lost. Pay the fine so you can go back without fearing the consequences.

But I wonder why chartley has awarded Tweeny an Ugly American badge? From his/her writing, I'd guess Tweeny is NOT an American.
lcuy is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -