I received a traffic ticket from Florence
Oct 7th, 2010, 05:18 AM
#81
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Hi folks: I got a trespassing violation (ignorance of that law was no excuse either) I want to send the money but it's not clear how to do that in Euros from the U.S. If I get the entire fine print on the back translated in Italian will it make it clearer how to mail or wire? Main thing is I want to make sure that I have some kind of receipt from authorities (i.e., it's not a car rental copy I'm sending the money to).Hope this isn't a stupid question. Thanks in advance.
Dec 9th, 2011, 03:41 PM
#82
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Hello, Iv joined the club and recieved one of these too. I read online that the authorities have up to 1 year to notify you - is this true? The date of the fine was 28/08/2010 and I recieved the notification 1/12/2011 happy christmas from Firenze : ( anyway this is over a year so before I part with my hard earned euros any advice to confirm if the 1 year rule is correct would be much appreciated
Dec 9th, 2011, 04:37 PM
#83
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garygary,
If you are given an account to which you can make a payment, you can transfer money from your bank account to the other bank account with http://www.xe.com/fx/ However, the initial signing up procedure which is like opening a bank account might not make it worthwhile. Otherwise it is probably the cheapest option.
If you are given an account to which you can make a payment, you can transfer money from your bank account to the other bank account with http://www.xe.com/fx/ However, the initial signing up procedure which is like opening a bank account might not make it worthwhile. Otherwise it is probably the cheapest option.
Dec 20th, 2011, 08:26 AM
#84
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Garygary
Welcome to the FIFC = Fined in Florence Club
I too got the dreaded Euro 166.65 fine today
Searching on the web I found this....
4) In Italy, the authorities have up to one year after they have obtained the offender's details to issue a traffic ticket to an offender in a foreign country.
Note "AFTER THEY HAVE OBTAINED THE OFFENDERS DETAILS "
Seems so sloppy - my offence was Oct 2010, now 14 months later they ask for payment. No wonder Italy is in such a mess if it takes them tis long to process a simple fine.
It's still brings in over 50 million Euros each year !!
Now wondering how to avoid paying, not because I didnt commit the crime, but because I hate doing biz with anyone who wiats 14 monts to ask for payment. Can I write and this man died a year gao????
Welcome to the FIFC = Fined in Florence Club
I too got the dreaded Euro 166.65 fine today
Searching on the web I found this....
4) In Italy, the authorities have up to one year after they have obtained the offender's details to issue a traffic ticket to an offender in a foreign country.
Note "AFTER THEY HAVE OBTAINED THE OFFENDERS DETAILS "
Seems so sloppy - my offence was Oct 2010, now 14 months later they ask for payment. No wonder Italy is in such a mess if it takes them tis long to process a simple fine.
It's still brings in over 50 million Euros each year !!
Now wondering how to avoid paying, not because I didnt commit the crime, but because I hate doing biz with anyone who wiats 14 monts to ask for payment. Can I write and this man died a year gao????
Dec 24th, 2011, 07:28 AM
#85
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Having scrolled up and down I come to the conclusion accept you have broken a local parking restriction and pay up.
What does annoy me is the size of the fine - IT IS TOTALLY UNREASONABLE.
First Hertz take a whopping EUROS 36 - just to tell your name address and date of birth and where born. Why does it help knowing where I was born 69 years ago????
How to they arrive at a figure of EUROS 116.65 - GEEZ !! thats worked out at EUROS 23 per minute as I drove in to drop off a VISITOR at a their rented apartment. I dont mind paying fines, but this charge is totally over the top.
What does annoy me is the size of the fine - IT IS TOTALLY UNREASONABLE.
First Hertz take a whopping EUROS 36 - just to tell your name address and date of birth and where born. Why does it help knowing where I was born 69 years ago????
How to they arrive at a figure of EUROS 116.65 - GEEZ !! thats worked out at EUROS 23 per minute as I drove in to drop off a VISITOR at a their rented apartment. I dont mind paying fines, but this charge is totally over the top.
Dec 24th, 2011, 10:15 AM
#87
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<i>How to they arrive at a figure of EUROS 116.65</i>
It probably comes out to a round number in <i>lire</i>.
In San Francisco, $100 fine if you park in your driveway with even just one foot sticking out on the public sidewalk, leaving another 10 feet free for the pedestrians; but it is not always enforced.
I remember hearing that if one does not pay, the rental agency may be forced to pay, which means that it will turn around and charge it on the client's credit card. But this may be just a rumor.
It probably comes out to a round number in <i>lire</i>.
In San Francisco, $100 fine if you park in your driveway with even just one foot sticking out on the public sidewalk, leaving another 10 feet free for the pedestrians; but it is not always enforced.
I remember hearing that if one does not pay, the rental agency may be forced to pay, which means that it will turn around and charge it on the client's credit card. But this may be just a rumor.
Feb 29th, 2016, 01:06 PM
#88
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I too just received such a ticket from my trip to Florence. Now I've read through all of these post and it looks like the exact same ticket. My only concern is that I didn't drive anywhere near the city center. I stayed at a small hostel on the outside of town and drove straight there, then used public transit once there. The bus ride into town took about 25 minutes! Now I didn't mind the bus as it was nice and relaxing to enjoy the view. Upon leaving town I jumped right back on the high way. I'm not sure how I would have drove in a restricted area in that case! I am truly thinking that this is very much a tourist trap. And I've traveled all around and never had this issue. On that particular trip I drove from Rome to Venice over the course of the week and Florence seems to be the only place I drove somewhere I shouldn't have. But the best part is. It's where I drove the least!!! If this ticket was from Rome. Id understand because there were a few places that I was completely confused on if I belonged there!! I love to travel and I loved italy very much! But this ticket, excuse my language, is bullshit!
Feb 29th, 2016, 01:31 PM
#89
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Might I add. I'm from NY. And if you were to receive a ticket from a camera enforced area, you get a pretty little car selfie shot of you committing the violation. Id kinda like to see that photo of me being where I shouldn't have been. I'm very curious, so Id know not to do it next time I visit the area.
Feb 29th, 2016, 02:24 PM
#90
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DanandAndrea, thanks for your valid question. My wife and I were planning on driving around Italy for several weeks, but after the info on your question we are never going there. Greed is an amazing force.
Their policies are no different from the racial discrimination that I grew up with in the '40 and '50's in Oklahoma. The Jim Crow laws had all kinds of excuses for their existence, but the bottom line was, they were just plane wrong. Blacks could not drive or stay in certain areas of towns, could not go to schools with whites, etc., etc.
Just like Italy now. Thanks, Curt
Their policies are no different from the racial discrimination that I grew up with in the '40 and '50's in Oklahoma. The Jim Crow laws had all kinds of excuses for their existence, but the bottom line was, they were just plane wrong. Blacks could not drive or stay in certain areas of towns, could not go to schools with whites, etc., etc.
Just like Italy now. Thanks, Curt
Feb 29th, 2016, 02:34 PM
#91
Curtf: >>The Jim Crow laws had all kinds of excuses for their existence, but the bottom line was, they were just plane wrong. Blacks could not drive or stay in certain areas of towns, could not go to schools with whites, etc., etc.
Just like Italy now. Thanks, Curt<<
That is plain silly and to compare traffic tix to Jim Crow -- my goodness(!) Quite a leap.
(DanandAndrea posted this once 6 years ago and never returned
Just like Italy now. Thanks, Curt<<
That is plain silly and to compare traffic tix to Jim Crow -- my goodness(!) Quite a leap.
(DanandAndrea posted this once 6 years ago and never returned
Apr 18th, 2016, 05:09 AM
#93
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Yesterday received a letter from Firenze Polizia, which I assume is the Florence Police! Thought it was a scam as the last time we were in Italy was 5 years ago, although we were just contemplating returning.
It states we were notified of a fine for a violation on the 20/01/2012 which took place on 03/06/2011. So that was nearly 7 months after the date of the offence!
We have definately not received any communication from them until yesterday 17/04//2016!
We have not been given the opportunity to pay the amount of the original fine but of course that benefits the Italian authorities as it means more money fir them!
Seems we strayed into a lane reserved for public transport which we were obviously unaware of! There was 4 adult drivers in the car too! Of course everyone is aware that tourists are usually very busy trying to concentrate on driving on the other side of the road and trying to find their way around in an unfamiliar place!
The fine is now 178.80 euros! It does not state what the original fine was though and there is no break down of how this current total has been reached!
Big cash cow for Italy (Florence) from tourists, because obviously they will be the ones who are unaware and are caught out! However it certainly would put me off returning to visit a country where the authorities are so greedy and underhanded! It is blatantly obvious who they are targeting!
Bye, bye Italy, lots of other lovely countries to visit! Have been holidaying abroad for over 40 years using rental cars and this is a first for us!
I live in a very busy tourist area, St. Andrews, Scotland, 'The Home of Golf' where we do our best to go out of our way to welcome and assist tourists unfamiliar with the area with parking etc., and in Scotand in general we do not target tourists to bring in extra revenue from traffic violation fines! Very snap happy with the traffic in Italy it seems! We on the other hand want tourists to enjoy their stay and 'Haste Ye Back'!
It states we were notified of a fine for a violation on the 20/01/2012 which took place on 03/06/2011. So that was nearly 7 months after the date of the offence!
We have definately not received any communication from them until yesterday 17/04//2016!
We have not been given the opportunity to pay the amount of the original fine but of course that benefits the Italian authorities as it means more money fir them!
Seems we strayed into a lane reserved for public transport which we were obviously unaware of! There was 4 adult drivers in the car too! Of course everyone is aware that tourists are usually very busy trying to concentrate on driving on the other side of the road and trying to find their way around in an unfamiliar place!
The fine is now 178.80 euros! It does not state what the original fine was though and there is no break down of how this current total has been reached!
Big cash cow for Italy (Florence) from tourists, because obviously they will be the ones who are unaware and are caught out! However it certainly would put me off returning to visit a country where the authorities are so greedy and underhanded! It is blatantly obvious who they are targeting!
Bye, bye Italy, lots of other lovely countries to visit! Have been holidaying abroad for over 40 years using rental cars and this is a first for us!
I live in a very busy tourist area, St. Andrews, Scotland, 'The Home of Golf' where we do our best to go out of our way to welcome and assist tourists unfamiliar with the area with parking etc., and in Scotand in general we do not target tourists to bring in extra revenue from traffic violation fines! Very snap happy with the traffic in Italy it seems! We on the other hand want tourists to enjoy their stay and 'Haste Ye Back'!
Apr 18th, 2016, 05:21 AM
#94
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I hope you feel better with your rant.
Do you get paid by the number of exclamation points at your work ?
Just a question how does the Polizia know you are a tourist ? There are some italian people who rent acras too, you know..
When I get such kind of admin stupidity I just drop it in the wastebin, I don't register to write a rant.
Do you get paid by the number of exclamation points at your work ?
Just a question how does the Polizia know you are a tourist ? There are some italian people who rent acras too, you know..
When I get such kind of admin stupidity I just drop it in the wastebin, I don't register to write a rant.
Apr 18th, 2016, 11:19 AM
#95
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Yes thank you Whathello!
I had more to worry about than exclamation marks in my 40 year career, I was too busy nursing my patients!
Are you a Troll? Just 12 minutes to research my name and registration history, read, digest and respond to my comment!!!! Perhaps you have nothing else to do except be rude to people and try and annoy them!!! Whatever makes you happy!!!
Locals to the area would know about all of these infractions and Italians from other areas read Italian and are familiar with driving in Italy so have an understanding of the driving restrictions, traffic signs etc.!!!!
Don't tell me these fines are not being used to get money out of the unsuspecting tourists! It is blatantly obvious!!!
I registered to raise awareness among other readers about what happens 5 years later!!! Not that the reason is any of your business anyway!!!!
Very strange that the majority of these comments are from 2010 and 2011 then nothing till a few in 2016!!!
I had more to worry about than exclamation marks in my 40 year career, I was too busy nursing my patients!
Are you a Troll? Just 12 minutes to research my name and registration history, read, digest and respond to my comment!!!! Perhaps you have nothing else to do except be rude to people and try and annoy them!!! Whatever makes you happy!!!
Locals to the area would know about all of these infractions and Italians from other areas read Italian and are familiar with driving in Italy so have an understanding of the driving restrictions, traffic signs etc.!!!!
Don't tell me these fines are not being used to get money out of the unsuspecting tourists! It is blatantly obvious!!!
I registered to raise awareness among other readers about what happens 5 years later!!! Not that the reason is any of your business anyway!!!!
Very strange that the majority of these comments are from 2010 and 2011 then nothing till a few in 2016!!!
)
Apr 18th, 2016, 12:42 PM
#97
>>Very strange that the majority of these comments are from 2010 and 2011 then nothing till a few in 2016!!!<<
Not strange at all -- people who want to rant google 'Florence traffic ticket' (like you did), find this thread (like you did), register (like you did), and post . . . like . . .
Not strange at all -- people who want to rant google 'Florence traffic ticket' (like you did), find this thread (like you did), register (like you did), and post . . . like . . .
Apr 18th, 2016, 01:10 PM
#98
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>>Locals to the area would know about all of these infractions and Italians from other areas read Italian and are familiar with driving in Italy so have an understanding of the driving restrictions, traffic signs etc.!!!!<<
So, tourists are exempt from traffic rules. Interesting concept. I will try this approach next time I rent a car abroad...
So, tourists are exempt from traffic rules. Interesting concept. I will try this approach next time I rent a car abroad...
Apr 18th, 2016, 01:32 PM
#99
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A quick look at the AA website would tell you all you needed to now about driving in Italy, and about the various zone restrictions. https://www.theaa.com/motoring_advic...eas/index.html
With regard to paying the fine I suggest you read the second item in this link. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/co...ce-courts.html
Because it is a civil offence the Florence authorities can, and possibly will employ a debt collection agency to collect the fine. It will only increase the longer you delay.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...es-abroad.html
And no Whathello maybe many things, but a troll he is not.
With regard to paying the fine I suggest you read the second item in this link. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/co...ce-courts.html
Because it is a civil offence the Florence authorities can, and possibly will employ a debt collection agency to collect the fine. It will only increase the longer you delay.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...es-abroad.html
And no Whathello maybe many things, but a troll he is not.
Apr 18th, 2016, 01:41 PM
#100
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So predictable such one time rants.
Anyway OP will be missing great food I just had in Mestre a seppia preceded by a spaghetti al vongole with a good white wine. Then I avoided fines by driving carefully and will drink a grappa before sleep.
Why is it so complicated for some ?
Good night all !
Tomorrow I hope to spend a few hours in Venice before catching my flight to Paris. I have had worse travels ;-)
Anyway OP will be missing great food I just had in Mestre a seppia preceded by a spaghetti al vongole with a good white wine. Then I avoided fines by driving carefully and will drink a grappa before sleep.
Why is it so complicated for some ?
Good night all !
Tomorrow I hope to spend a few hours in Venice before catching my flight to Paris. I have had worse travels ;-)
