tcreath

ekscrunchy, yes, your response was quite the opposite of ours! Avis basically just brushed it off and told us to throw the ticket away and that nothing else would ever come of it. And nothing ever did; we never received future correspondence from Avis or from Austria regarding the ticket, and as I mentioned above we rented from Avis in Rome earlier this year and had no problems.

Perhaps it made a difference that we received our ticket in Austria and not Italy? Our ticket was for driving in a "restricted zone" (not sure what that means, but we did manage to get ourselves quite lost in Salzburg one day so I'm assuming it was then), not speeding, so that could make a difference as well. Still, quite strange! It makes me wonder if you would get a different response if you would call back later and talk to someone else.

Tracy

ekscrunchy

Tracy I am sure you are correct..I would likely get a different response if I call back. But that bit about the collection agency kind of scared me....after all, Avis is not the one who is going to make a determination of whether or not to pursue this. And they will certainly not help me if I DO get another notice with a bigger fine or a call from a collection agency (shudder!). My feeling is that I COULD just let it go and likely hear nothing more. But maybe it is not worth it to save 68 Euro. (???) Also, the ticket must be for a similar violation as yours, as it reads "entering a traffic zone without authorisation."

So..what to do? I suppose I should pay up and chalk it up as a travel expense, as someone mentioned above....I still wonder if anyone has actually been pursued or suffered any consequences for NOT paying.

Eloise, thanks for posting that link to Slowtrav.

tcreath

ekscrunchy, the idea of being turned over to a collection agency would make me nervous as well. Since its just 68 euro I think I would have gone ahead and paid it if I would have gotten a similar response. Its probably worth the piece of mind.

Best wishes,
Tracy

clevelandbrown

I suspect that whether they will follow through on collection varies from area to area with the competency of their bureaucracy.

People who posted that they will never be able to track you down in response to a question by someone who has been tracked down probably haven't given it a lot of thought.

I would do the honorable thing and pay the ticket, but frankly, doing the honorable thing appears to be going out of style.

If you don't pay and are really unlucky, the Florentine municipal authority will report you to the Italian equivalent of the TSA; from there, your name will wend its way to the US TSA, who will put you on the do not fly list.

ekscrunchy

Well I am not too worried about the TSA part, but I guess that the "right" thing is to pay so I guess I will do it, just not today!

It's funny, though, that no one has had, or has heard of someone else having, the experience of being penalized in any way for NOT paying.

polis

You can do all the above. I also got a photo ticket for entering the forbidden zone.
Some websites comment, and I have conferred with an Italian friend, that there isn't much the policia can do to collect. The car rental co is only obliged to give your name and address, and they charge you for it. To make sure, do check with Avis.
I hope fewer people pay this type of tickets/extortion.
Cheers

tedgale

A lovely walk down Memory Lane.

Jeez, we were so much younger in 2006. My life has changed immeasurably. And Tracy had no idea she would have those gorgeous twin girls. Etc etc

FWIW: I have never paid a ticket and I have never been stopped from renting a car.

Polis: No need to revive a 6 or 7 year old thread - though I am delighted to be reminded of it....