DickPatterson

I was very surprised to read about markrosy's "Italian friends who have to pay due to the ease at which the authorities can secure payment." I would love to read more about how the Italians deal with this. I suspect most of you have seen the little cartoon that compares how Italians do things with the way "everybody else" does them. Their attitude toward life (including such things as following rules and the law) is part of why we feel affection for them. But since the little cartoon conforms so much with what I have witnessed in Italy (have you ever waited in line for a bus over there and seen pandemonium break out when the bus arrived?), until I hear more about how the Italians handle this, I will assume that foreign tourists are the only ones who pay these fines. Every posting that recounts an incident like this starts with "I don't know what I did wrong." Yes, there are signs posted at the ztl entrances, but do they check every day to make sure that every sign is intact and not obscured by tree limbs or something else? I feel fairly sure that everyone who gets a ticket for driving in a ztl was, in fact, driving in a ztl. But how many did it on purpose? How many entered the ztl because the sign was covered up, or because it was not visible until it there was no place to turn to avoid entering, or because there were too many confusing signs to read at once in the split second you have before the cars in back of you start zipping around you or in which to avoid a collision with the car heading right for you from the side? It wouldn't be so bad if the rental companies didn't charge so much (usually about 50 euros) for the minute it takes them to query their system and tell the police who was driving their car at the time, or if the fine weren't so stiff (about 100 euros), or if the hotels were more conscientious about registering the cars of their guests. I think they should, in the spirit of hospitality, "cut their guests some slack," and not fine people once they find out the ztl offense was committed by a foreign tourist. After all, the tourist has already paid the exorbitant fee to the rental company, so they're going to be more careful next time. I'm not talking about deliberate infractions like speeding (are there really tourists who drive faster than the Italians?), but just this one offense.

markrosy

I can only pass on the experience of our Italian friends who are from Turin so are not typical Italians. Far too gentile to attempt cheap tricks like avoiding their civil duties.

They say that the issuing authorities will persue them throught the Italian courts and at each stage the fine increase by x euros. They just don't stand down so its best to pay at the start.

According to the Italian Consulate in Manchester around 30% of non Italian nationals pay traffic fines. ALL pay voluntarily.

I also hold you views about Italian life - read "The Dark Heart of Italy".