Italian Infingement fine in Pisa
Discussion
While on holiday in Tuscany in August 2007 we hired a car from Pisa airport and decided to take a trip into Pisa to take a look at the tower etc.
Followed the Sat nav into the center and parked up after 40 mins of looking at a wonky tower we decided to head off to Florence and our hotel.
Flash forward 12 months . . .well actually 12 months and 16 days to be exact we received a letter in the post from Municipality of Pisa ordering us to pay a 113 Euro fine for "Circulating in a restricted traffic zone"
now im not one for trying to get out of paying fines if i have done something wrong but i think i should have been warned at the hire car desk. Also looking round the net there seems to be lots of people who have been hit by this and also people who have been hit multiple times within a short space of time (i guess looking for parking spaces going in and out of the "zone").
I have 60 days to pay this. whats the legality of it if anyone can answer as it was over a year since it took place till i got hte letter?
Followed the Sat nav into the center and parked up after 40 mins of looking at a wonky tower we decided to head off to Florence and our hotel.
Flash forward 12 months . . .well actually 12 months and 16 days to be exact we received a letter in the post from Municipality of Pisa ordering us to pay a 113 Euro fine for "Circulating in a restricted traffic zone"
now im not one for trying to get out of paying fines if i have done something wrong but i think i should have been warned at the hire car desk. Also looking round the net there seems to be lots of people who have been hit by this and also people who have been hit multiple times within a short space of time (i guess looking for parking spaces going in and out of the "zone").
I have 60 days to pay this. whats the legality of it if anyone can answer as it was over a year since it took place till i got hte letter?
exactly, don't worry about it you're not going to wake up with a Horse's head in your bed........looking round the net, these are quite common. The main issue is that these folk have my passport details and driving license details.
Some of the people on other sites have been hit my multiple fines for driving around looking for parking spaces while passing multiple cameras
Crazy. . .
Some of the people on other sites have been hit my multiple fines for driving around looking for parking spaces while passing multiple cameras
Crazy. . .
EU_Foreigner said:
Especially on a rental, no way to pay. Worst they can do is charge the rental company who will then claim it back from your Credit Card.
To stop them charging your CC, change your card, ie report the old one damaged. They will then send you a new one and you will still be able to use the old one until the new one arrives. New card means new end dates etc.Edited by The Black Duke on Monday 8th September 12:34
eightseventhree said:
looking round the net, these are quite common. The main issue is that these folk have my passport details and driving license details.
Some of the people on other sites have been hit my multiple fines for driving around looking for parking spaces while passing multiple cameras
Crazy. . .
But what can they do, even with your passport details and UK licence details? They can't come and arrest you, they can't send a bailiff as a bailiff can only work on UK court fines and UK CC judgements. They can't come to your home and demand the money.Some of the people on other sites have been hit my multiple fines for driving around looking for parking spaces while passing multiple cameras
Crazy. . .
I really don't know why you are worried at all.
I've been done too - twice in 20 minutes in Florence six months ago. Letter turned up this morning. A couple of hours on the net have shown this is a tidy scam - as eightseventhree says. Loads have been nabbed.
I've no problem ignoring it, as I'd prefer the £120 in my pocket, though it's making me think twice about going back in February, as planned.
I should have realised something fishy was going on when an unaccounted £30 from the hire car company showed up on our credit card statement a few months ago. Turns out it was an admin fee for passing on our details to those trying to get the cash off us. We got the credit card company to get it back but my concern is the hire car company will chase us for it - and more.
Thoughts, anyone?
I've no problem ignoring it, as I'd prefer the £120 in my pocket, though it's making me think twice about going back in February, as planned.
I should have realised something fishy was going on when an unaccounted £30 from the hire car company showed up on our credit card statement a few months ago. Turns out it was an admin fee for passing on our details to those trying to get the cash off us. We got the credit card company to get it back but my concern is the hire car company will chase us for it - and more.
Thoughts, anyone?
bobbins said:
I've been done too - twice in 20 minutes in Florence six months ago. Letter turned up this morning. A couple of hours on the net have shown this is a tidy scam - as eightseventhree says. Loads have been nabbed.
I've no problem ignoring it, as I'd prefer the £120 in my pocket, though it's making me think twice about going back in February, as planned.
I should have realised something fishy was going on when an unaccounted £30 from the hire car company showed up on our credit card statement a few months ago. Turns out it was an admin fee for passing on our details to those trying to get the cash off us. We got the credit card company to get it back but my concern is the hire car company will chase us for it - and more.
Thoughts, anyone?
Send them a one word answer.......I've no problem ignoring it, as I'd prefer the £120 in my pocket, though it's making me think twice about going back in February, as planned.
I should have realised something fishy was going on when an unaccounted £30 from the hire car company showed up on our credit card statement a few months ago. Turns out it was an admin fee for passing on our details to those trying to get the cash off us. We got the credit card company to get it back but my concern is the hire car company will chase us for it - and more.
Thoughts, anyone?
"Vaffanculo"
and change your credit card
An update to this.
I have been dealing with this through my European Member of Parliament (MEP), and a solicitor friend of mine. We have come to the conclusion that these fines are legal and can be chased up to 365 + 180 days. Due to them going through the hire car company.
I received a letter back from my MEP saying basically tough s
t:
“The Home Office has advised that the EU Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties Framework Decision, part of the Criminal Justice Act 2008, will, once implemented, allow financial penalties imposed in one EU Member State to be transferred and enforced in another.”
“As we have received so many enquirers about this matter, we have added some information to our travel advice for Italy on our website http://www.fco.gov.uk) to warn travelers of the restricted traffic zones and the possibility of receiving a fine if the restricted zone is entered without an exemption pass. This will hopefully forewarn tourists to Italy and prevent further fines.”
Also to add they can now chase these fines, and do by using a European debt collection agency.
This website contains more information:
http://www.blogfromitaly.com/speeding-fines-in-ita...
I have had to pay my fine for now but am still actively trying to get the cash back (this is the done way in Italy, to payup then contest)
Its very unlikely that i will be going back to Pisa and have warned many others of this cash cow.
I have been dealing with this through my European Member of Parliament (MEP), and a solicitor friend of mine. We have come to the conclusion that these fines are legal and can be chased up to 365 + 180 days. Due to them going through the hire car company.
I received a letter back from my MEP saying basically tough s
t:“The Home Office has advised that the EU Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties Framework Decision, part of the Criminal Justice Act 2008, will, once implemented, allow financial penalties imposed in one EU Member State to be transferred and enforced in another.”
“As we have received so many enquirers about this matter, we have added some information to our travel advice for Italy on our website http://www.fco.gov.uk) to warn travelers of the restricted traffic zones and the possibility of receiving a fine if the restricted zone is entered without an exemption pass. This will hopefully forewarn tourists to Italy and prevent further fines.”
Also to add they can now chase these fines, and do by using a European debt collection agency.
This website contains more information:
http://www.blogfromitaly.com/speeding-fines-in-ita...
I have had to pay my fine for now but am still actively trying to get the cash back (this is the done way in Italy, to payup then contest)
Its very unlikely that i will be going back to Pisa and have warned many others of this cash cow.
Edited by eightseventhree on Friday 31st October 06:39
Intestesting. Almost identical experience.
I posted a similar question on the evo mag forum at the start of Sept ~ a friend (ie me
) received the same Piza restricted area fine relating to a hire car. Pics on the website confirm the vehicle was the one we hired, and we similarly drove into the centre (to get to the hotel which was approx 200m from the tower) using the TomTom to guide us. I have a vague memory of a policeman giving me a funny stare, so assume this was as I entered/left said alleged restricted zone.
I haven't paid or appealed - primarily because I forgot to do so within the time limit, so fine has now gone up £50.
Still undecided what to do.... but I know I'll want to go back to Italy at some point in the future and don't want to spend a night in an Aye-Tie jail.
I posted a similar question on the evo mag forum at the start of Sept ~ a friend (ie me
) received the same Piza restricted area fine relating to a hire car. Pics on the website confirm the vehicle was the one we hired, and we similarly drove into the centre (to get to the hotel which was approx 200m from the tower) using the TomTom to guide us. I have a vague memory of a policeman giving me a funny stare, so assume this was as I entered/left said alleged restricted zone. I haven't paid or appealed - primarily because I forgot to do so within the time limit, so fine has now gone up £50.
Still undecided what to do.... but I know I'll want to go back to Italy at some point in the future and don't want to spend a night in an Aye-Tie jail.
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