As from today anyone who receives a traffic fine can pay it within 5 days and get a 30% discount. After 5 days you have to pay the full amount.

Usually there are various ways to pay the ticket - in any post office, at certain locations which have special POS machines (usually "Tabacchi") or on line. The ticket will tell you the various modalities.

Make sure that you calculate the discount correctly as if you get it wrong you have to pay the full amount.

Good news for travelers in Italy.

Is there any way to determine if you did receive a ticket before you leave Italy? Lots of people don't find out until up to a year later.

That's the inherent problem with traffic cameras -- they don't empty them daily.

Actually the 5 days runs from notification.

If it is a parking offence the date will be the same day as your ticket will obviously be on the windshield.

The problems will most likely be with speeding and ZTL offences.

Assuming that most travelers reading this are US and also assuming most are using hire cars the ticket will be notified to the hire car company. As has been observed on many an occasion the hire car companies often charge the renter's credit card with the fine. It remains to be seen whether the hire car companies will update their systems to pay any fines received within 5 days.

<i>As has been observed on many an occasion the hire car companies often charge the renter's credit card with the fine. </i>

Is that an Italian thing? The rental car companies normally charge you an administrative fee for passing your contact info on to the police and you still have to pay the fine when you get it from the police.

>>>As has been observed on many an occasion the hire car companies often charge the renter's credit card with the fine.<<<

No, the car company charges a fee(30-45€) for providing your info to the police (it's in the rental contracts even in the US). The actual ticket/fine comes in the mail later on.

My mistake - last traffic fine I received was back in December 1981 other than parking offences.

Presume date of notification would run from date of ticket being sent rather than date of receipt so unless post was very quick the 5 day time limit would be missed.

A lot has changed in 32 years, nochbald. For instance, the Soviet Union is no more. And East Germany and West Germany reunited back into regular old Germany.

Sparkchaser - so true but I still drive my faithful Trabant!

<i>Usually there are various ways to pay the ticket - in any post office, at certain locations which have special POS machines (usually "Tabacchi") or on line. The ticket will tell you the various modalities.
</i>

It obviously applies to locals who can pay through these venues.

Well yes and no - if the ticket is for parking you can do it while still in Italy. If not it is often possible to pay on line. The language is obviously Italian but the procedure is not that complicated.

<i>Actually the 5 days runs from notification. </i>

From the day one receives it or from the day it is mailed out? How do the authorities know when one has received it if the former?

Perhaps the first Fodorite to receive a ticket by post for an offence committed after today's date could illuminate everyone as to how the authorities illustrate how the 30% deduction applies in fact.

you mean that I don't get a discount on the $100 speeding fine I incurred in Mass. in 1988?

darn it.

<i> I still drive my faithful Trabant!</i>

I'd drive one! I want a Lada Niva.

Sparkchaser - let's do a swop. But you have to pick it up. I can't guarantee delivery!

Tempting.