It doesn't leave a good impression to say the least! If you choose to use one side only, you must cross the other with an oblique line. Some people say that you should pay the traffic fine, and others just ignore it. No more for me! In other worlds, they can't imagine there is a country where you can get a driving license without learning international signs. Besides, there is a 5-year statute of limitation for enforcing a traffic related fine. Does it specify the word "March"? I was charged for additional tolls a few months after hope that included driving in the ZTL, as I know I made a few wrong turns in Florence! The obligation to pay the toll expires after five years.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'italianviaggio_com-small-rectangle-1','ezslot_25',622,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-small-rectangle-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'italianviaggio_com-small-rectangle-1','ezslot_26',622,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-small-rectangle-1-0_1');.small-rectangle-1-multi-622{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. I'm an Italian-Dominican guy who loves to travel and explore the world. Next, click on opposizione a sanzione amministrativa and enter your details. Thanks for any advice on how to avoid them. 202 CdS: Also, your ticket is enforceable after 60 days. You can use more than one sheet as long as you staple them. I don't know if that expands to foreigners, but at least you can ask. TheSupreme Court of Cassationsaid that drivers must pay all the penalties. They have 360 days from the moment they know your name, ask Hertz when they Forwared the cops your address. Change). They are costly, time-consuming, and sometimes unfair. Nearly 50% of ZTL fines in Florence are issued to foreign visitors. Here's where to find it in Bologna. According to Art. Heres what you need to send in the envelope: If you choose to use the online service, you still have to send the registration by mail. My question is will we be able to rent our car as planned or will there be a problem getting it? link to Driving in Italy: Do Rental Cars Have GPS Navigation? Make sure to not spend too much time on it.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'italianviaggio_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',694,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0'); Another way to appeal is to go to the Prefect. I have posted on many occasions that renting a car is not a good idea. There's nowhere for me to note the violation number as a reference. Really? Some people give up to the pressure and the empty threats, others dont. There is no loop hole to jump through. But even in the unlikely event that happened (and you would definitely make the 8 oclock news in Italy), they dont put you in prison, theyll just send you another fine at home. I was there for work and I figured it wasn't bad getting only 1 ticket over 7 trips to Bologna. The terms are counted from thedate of the infringement. I find ridiculous an adult checking his/her po box once every 6 months, to the point that I assume this adult could have Haaaaaaaaaapily ignored many more letters. depends on the type of violation. If you live in the US nothing happens if you dont pay. If the ticket remains unpaid it does not stop and remains on your record indefinitely. The purpose of a statute of limitations does not apply to traffic violations. Finally, you can ask to pay one fine if you make several infractions in the same lane within a few minutes. The first paper ticket arrived in the mail 9 months after the fact - 57 EU to be paid online or it doubles in 60 days. That puts a little different light on the situation. It is only useful if you see anobviousdefect in the fine. While the contractual limitation period is 10 years, a period of 5 years normally applies to penalties regulated by the Road Traffic Code. The last time he moved back to the USA, he dealt with a crazy bureaucracy, as he tried to close out his utility accounts: he finally received his balance, paid, and closed the account. You did not pay because you thought you could cheat the system, but don't use such excuses and don't call the methods of payments I mentioned "jumping through hoops". I was told by one of the residents the morning after that I was illegally parked and would likely get a ticket. Most of the time, you dont need to register to pay online. Has anyone wondered why it is that the rental car agencies, who know what the laws are and what the complications can be, NEVER tell you about the "no go zones" in Italy. To present an appeal, you have to send a registered letter. i love Italy but I feel that they purposely take advantage of visitors to their country. You have to write almost the same information in the letter as the Prefect. Its never come up. By Rebecca Pirius, Attorney. Heres how it works: Essentially, it can take up to510 daysto notify a fine in Italy. Most debtors do. Of course, the collection agency is inflating the financial charges, but like many who have posted on this and other forums, a traffic ticket is a far different offense than defaulting on a loan or other financial obligation which would affect your credit score. The owners of the car, the rental company, must then respond within 60 days with the information on who was driving the car at that time. Parking is one of the biggest issues that drivers have in Italy. Wanted to understand where the renter stands as the notice of payment from the police has been sent well in excess of 360 days after police were informed of identity of car renter. You have60 daysfrom the notification to pay your ticket. Write down the following information: Usually, you will find a completed form attached to your ticket. They have 365 days to issue their tickets - you will have one year of total frustration after your fabulous Italian holiday. (I suspected something amiss at the time as there was little traffic and mostly only pedestrians on the streets I was driving on.) All New Jersey drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance. Weeks later I got a letter from the police chief in Alberobello apologizing and enclosing a document saying the case was closed! This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. If the debate is rejected, you could complain to the hotel to claim damages. There are times and places where renting a car makes sense. But I have a feeling we went in a ZTL zone at one point. The fine we got was only 49,20 E. In the US you usually don't have to pay the fee for the credit card either. The count of these days starts when they receive your name and address from the rental agency. That should be a hit on your credit card with which you rented the car. But Americans regard use of the car as the national Badge of Adulthood. Likewise, for non-US citizens in the USA, tipping is entirely optional, and is not required. In some cases, they can be more expensive than the ticket itself. We used Google maps for all directions and to locate parking lots, hotels, etc. ), Type of infraction (article number or a short description), Causal (ticket code, date of detection, and license plate), Personal information (your name, surname, address, etc. In a perfect world, the agents would make clear up front what those are to avoid any ZTLs, but the renter/driver is ultimately responsible for navigation and avoiding ZTLs. Not sure you will get many who advise not paying. **.dal momento che le infrazioni degli stranieri si avvicinano alla met del totale*, (..since the (ZTL) infractions by foreigners approach half of the total), https://www.lanazione.it/firenze/cronaca/ztl-furbetti-varchi-telematici-1.4082069. Authorities may wait for your return to Italy if legal proceedings dont take place. That was the fee for telling authorities your name and address. There wasn't any indication that we went somewhere we weren't supposed to. ' No?' It is hands down the cheapest method to send money abroad. Wire transfers are free, credit cards not. Wiki User . The worse is that the computerized photography only showed licenses plate. It sounds like Riverside County protected the statute of limitations by filing. If you dont receive a reply, you could appeal to the Regional Administrative Court (Tar). And yes. You just have to put a barcode of your ticket under an optical reader. Use your turn signal. But then you must leave your car outside the ZTL or get a daily subscription. The notification is not calculated from the day you receive the fine. It limits the amount of time for the case to be filed in court. My question iswhat happens if I don't pay it? How do you know that the police were notified of your name and address on the day you were charged? Why is it called pepperoni pizza (when peppers [seemingly] have nothing to do with it)? Just like my college exchange student daughter who screamed at me from the back seat as we entered the causeway to Venice to watch the speed camera but too late. If the last day is a holiday, it is extended to the next working day. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'italianviaggio_com-netboard-2','ezslot_17',682,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-netboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'italianviaggio_com-netboard-2','ezslot_18',682,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-netboard-2-0_1');.netboard-2-multi-682{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. I'm tempted to see how far they will go though, undecided at this point. The registered letter must be sent without an envelope. As exciting as it may seem, driving in a foreign country can be hectic and stressful, and Italy is no exception. Often it is more convenient to pay with the 30% discount. They are only justified if it is too difficult to identify the vehicle owner. Statute of Limitations for Traffic Offenses in New York. In terms of consequences for not paying, as a resident of the US you would face no legal consequences other than the harassment by a collection agency, if the jurisdiction you were fined from is one of those that employs international collection agencies to try to collect their fine (not all Italian cities use those international collection agencies, Florence does). If you dont know how to calculate them, you may end up making an unfounded appeal. However, not all reasons are valid in the courts. We had proof we had paid it, but three emails to Europcar, 2 phone calls (1 to the police by a native speaker, one to Europcar), and a letter later (to the police), complete with the evidence, and they still were hounding us. The fine is that looks like I have entered ZTL in Florence People really like the idea of all the extra "freedom" rental vehicles provide. Be sure to sport your fashionable reflective vest (if you must get out of your car on the roadway for any reason). But if you do, the judges will no longer accept your appeal. Of course any fine received via snail mail involves mailing and amministrative fees, but you'd have paid those fees even if you had received the letter 1 month after your journey. You always have to count from thelatest notificationor enforcement order. Did you enter a ZTL or not? This cost is a service forhandlingyour traffic ticket. Both havetelematic doorsto detect unauthorized vehicles. Surely it wasn't them who drove your car into the ZTL was it? However, the amount depends on the payment date. In my experience, it takes about six months, give or take, to receive the actual ticket. The Judge will decide whether you are guilty or not.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'italianviaggio_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_14',691,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-narrow-sky-2-0'); It may seem like a good idea to pay before contesting. As for non-EU residents, it depends on whether your country has legal agreements with Italy. It's true that 15% of ZTL fines are given to those living in Florence, but outside the ZTL. The ticketed driver must respond to their ticket within 15 days of the offense. Dont remember exactly where I got that data from, but check the article below on Florence daily La Nazione, (starting on the 5th line). @petanokona - we are in that situation now. Yes, but I've observed that a large number of Italian drivers seem to ignore the cameras and speed right by them. Also, you will notice a vertical sign with a red circle. Here is what you should check on your Italian traffic fine: Make sure to check if theIBANcorresponds to an Italian municipality.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'italianviaggio_com-small-square-1','ezslot_28',681,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-small-square-1-0'); You have the right to request a photo of the exact moment you committed the offense. Basically, you cant enter these zones if you dont have a special permit. You have30 daysto contest it to the Peace of Justice, or the debt will become final. The Italian Highway Code regulates the practices of public administrations. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. But if you ignore it, you will never know what it could have been. Whether its a huge bill or not, depends on how much you use, and a two month bill is obviously higher than one month. Melloscher, I received 2 separate certified letters informing me of the violations. Better not to drive in unfamiliar urban territory. Then, enter your basic demographics and choose your payment method. If that happens, the cameras will detect your vehicle as unauthorized. Depending on the infraction, the notification can be immediate or deferred. said I need to pay a total of 295 euros within 15 days.. So, I inspire you to have some patience and read this article carefully. How would I know which part of the process was delayed beyond its limit, whether it is the authorities who are at fault or someone else? Then sometime later you get a notice of a larger fine for the ticket itself, sometimes with a need for a wire transfer to pay. Thats about1802violations per day. If they are two separate tickets for two different traffic offenses, then the law-abiding thing to do is pay the ticket. Also, you need to attach a valid form of identification. Thanks. You must drive with your headlights on. Your point is well made. Art. Most of the time, tourists confuse it with a payment receipt. Once you are charged with a traffic violation, or given the traffic ticket, the statute of limitations stops, but the fine stays on your record indefinitely. At airport renter asked car rental company that there seemed to be possible infraction and where could fine be paid. dsw77, it's a foreigner's responsibility to know the driving laws in the country they're visiting. Your choice. Sisal betting shops work similarly to Lottomatica.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'italianviaggio_com-square-2','ezslot_34',684,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-square-2-0'); The best way to pay for Italian traffic tickets online is by wire transfer. It is a good idea to notify your hotel before arriving. https://thecreditbureau.com/2016/07/credit-agencies-stop-reporting-unpaid-tickets/. You can be going 1km over the speed limit and an Italian fining authority will issue a ticket. In the US it often requires expensive lawyers. 204 CdS, you cant do both at the same time.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'italianviaggio_com-vertical-banner-1','ezslot_37',693,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-vertical-banner-1-0'); Self-protection allows you to report an error directly to the municipality. May I ask you where did you find these data? It was all wonderful until 3 months after the trip - the first "ticket" notification arrived along with the Europcar $50 handling fee. I have found driving in Italy to be frustrating as well. According to Italian law, the municipality and the offender have separate terms. I never drove in an area that other drivers were not next to me doing the same thing. Now several days later, I have received a 2nd ticket for a separate offense. As American wine professionals have begun to travel to Italy again, it was inevitable that they would inadvertently commit a traffic infraction or two. As a side note, If there were no way to avoid that ZTL all locals would challenge the fines and they would end up ignoring that ZTL. When you get a moving violation, after you hand the officer your driver's license and they hand you the ticket, they ask you to sign it. There is no connection between motorway tolls that can be paid by Telepass and an historic district where Only residents are allowed to drive into. Because most Americans have to rent cars to get around Italian wine country, the ticket goes to the rental car agency. You need to read your ticket carefully before making any decision. I received a violation in October, 2008 (nearly 4 years ago) and I am now being hounded by a US-based collections agency for payment. Makes me wonder if people who have posted about TransferWise are just trying to promote the service Transferwise is very trusted in the expat community when we want to transfer money between the home bank and the foreign bank. Stop calling anything different (and better) a scam would also be appreciated. Put simply; you can contest a ticket if authorities dont fill it correctly. Maybe within Italy wire transfers are free. Did you break the law? My visit to Milan consisted of driving on well posted city streets, parking at the Holiday Inn parking garage and continuing from there on the main highway to Malpensa where I returned the car. This also happens when you drive a car registered abroad. ), Unauthorized access to ZTLs, bus lanes, historical centers, and pedestrian areas, Violations detected with devices managed by the police, Date of the infraction (year, month, day, and approximated hour), Authority and office that issued the infringement (e.g: Polizia Municipale di), The reporting officer who detected the infraction, Signature of the agents who issued the fine, Place of the infringement (city and street), Vehicle data (license plate number, model, type, etc. Thank you @Roberto da Firenze. Its easy to justify yourself by saying they are a scam. Ignoring a ticket is not the most responsible thing to do. The amount can vary from the min to the max of the fine, depending on the violation. The authorities must notify the owners of the car within 90 days of the infraction. Most traffic offenses in Texas are classified as Class C misdemeanors, considered a minor type of criminal offense. They can be cost. In case you send the letter to the authority that issued the ticket, it will have180 days.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'italianviaggio_com-netboard-1','ezslot_15',610,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-netboard-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'italianviaggio_com-netboard-1','ezslot_16',610,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-italianviaggio_com-netboard-1-0_1');.netboard-1-multi-610{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Although by law they cannot do so beyond the statute of limitations (which varies from State to State). Any county can turn a legal issue into a bench warrant at any time . That one was in error and our hotel paid it (but not the Europcar fee). No law enforces authorities to give anotice of payment before notificationto the offender. Judges dont accept personal excuses such as I thought that or this was my first time driving in Italy.. There are many substantial defects for every type of infraction, but these are the most common ones: Also, you need to prove in front of the Judge the substantial defect. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If you exceed the speed limits, a device will take a photo of your vehicles plate. If law enforcement fails to file a complaint against a driver within two years of a violation, the state cannot prosecute the driver after the statute of limitations period has ended. My partner and I went to Italy in June. Section 2901.13. Please click here to visit the Italian Grape Name and Appellation Project and listen to Italian grape growers pronounce the names of their grapes and appellations. desert museum palo verde tree root system statute of limitations on traffic tickets in new mexico. And the fines can be stiff. If Connecticutt has already issued a ticket, so there is . The problem is I only just received the ticket from Europcar, 16 months after the violation(driving in a lane desiginated for other vehicles) we were never stopped by police and no photo of the violation and the ticket is all written in german. Contest it. What the rental company says about it means zero. Has anyone wondered why it is that the rental car agencies, who know what the laws are and what the complications can be, NEVER tell you about the "no go zones" in Italy. The request must be made to the competent Justice of Peace. One of the bridges was closed for construction so the navigation took us on a slight detour. I was charged by my rental company a fine for receiving a driving violation in Florence 2 days before they were no longer legally allowed to do so. This will result in a waste of time, energy, and money. With theIBAN codeincluded on your ticket, you can send money directly to the municipalitys bank account. While in Italy in 2016 we did incur a toll violation as we lost our ticket on exit paid as soon as we got it. In the meantime, you will receive another letter asking you to pay. If you want to learn how tolls work in Italy, make sure to readthis post. When you are away from the car, the police leave you a paper. No law obliges you to notify the municipality in advance. It may be me, I have gotten two speeding tickets in 52 years of driving. The municipality will no longer have the right to collect the fine. 126-bisCdS, you have60 daysto provide your driving license. You will have to pay at least double theamount of each sanction. In the unlikely event that happened, you could always claim you never received it, however they might still try to collect it then. However, this rule doesnt apply to fines for restricted zones. Unaware of the upgrade, I drove right through the zone as I tried to reach the hotels parking. It has not been sent registered post and there was no marking on the envelope to suggest it is sent registered post and no one has signed for it. Why is this so difficult to understand ???? A defendant or respondent can ask the court to . I got a ticket in Modena for driving in a "Bus Only" lane, even though the other lanes were closed for construction and signage directed me to merge into the bus lane. In these cases, you have to send a letter to the police asking for proof of notification. It seems like every trip, we get a ticket, and since we rented a car, there is no choice on payment - the rental agency simply notifies us that our card was docked, and they add on a fee. 198 CdShas a specific procedure in case of multiple violations. It may be a little confusing for you to understand Italian laws. However, it might be another agency in charge of your debt. It doesnt matter when the officers examine the violation. There is a website for the small towns police department where I was able to look up the violation and see the photo they took of our rental car. How do those people deal with the citations? It is a very straightforward process, and you can find a tabaccheria almost anywhere. The directive also allows the enforcement of foreign debts. You wont be able to contest the ticket anymore.