Ran a red light in Italy - what do I do now?
Discussion
Hi - I'd appreciate some advice from those who know baout these things. After 22 years of offence-free driving I picked up my first ever ticket whilst on holiday last week. Bimbling through a deserted Italian village main street when a Municipal Policeman leaps out from behind a sign and flags me in.
Thought it was just a papers check but no, he points to the traffic light behind and says I went through on red. I'm not sure if I did or not (not impossible - I was talking, ahem, animatedly to my wife at the time) so I don't argue and am served with a 70 euro fixed penalty ticket. After a few unsucessful attempts to then engage me in idle chit-chat about my home town and how his university is affiliated with it (like I care) he sends me on my way.
What I'd like to know is what are the implications now? I drive a company car mainly, but I assume there is an obligation to contact my wife's insurers (on whose policy I am a named driver) and declare the incident? Is the offence likely to be reported by to DVLC here and result in points? I'm hoping to buy something modestly sporty for myself next year - will my insurance be badly affected?
Thanks for any advice!
Thought it was just a papers check but no, he points to the traffic light behind and says I went through on red. I'm not sure if I did or not (not impossible - I was talking, ahem, animatedly to my wife at the time) so I don't argue and am served with a 70 euro fixed penalty ticket. After a few unsucessful attempts to then engage me in idle chit-chat about my home town and how his university is affiliated with it (like I care) he sends me on my way.
What I'd like to know is what are the implications now? I drive a company car mainly, but I assume there is an obligation to contact my wife's insurers (on whose policy I am a named driver) and declare the incident? Is the offence likely to be reported by to DVLC here and result in points? I'm hoping to buy something modestly sporty for myself next year - will my insurance be badly affected?
Thanks for any advice!
Thanks chaps. First reaction was to forget about it, but I had a nagging worry that Italian bureaucracy might have suddenly got its act together and some report may find its way here.
As to chatting the guy round to scrapping the ticket, he already had my money by then as something about his manner had warned me off trying anything on
Visions of a few inconvenient hours down the nick kept me nice and compliant, not to mention those Piaggio scooters are pretty intimidating in Polizei livery... catso said:
minimoog said:
I had a nagging worry that Italian bureaucracy might have suddenly got its act together and some report may find its way here.
I doubt it's even been reported over there........ 
at the thought of Italian bureaucracy ever getting its act together. I have a relative who's good friend is head of a questura in Rome, and while he struck me as a switched on character, his tales over grappa....As yet the Italians cannot enforce criminal proceedings for this incident on UK resident back home after jollies, but....
just wondering on the civil side if they register the unpaid fine as a debt in that Country and then farm it out to a Debt Collection Agency to collect? If you look on the WEB there seems an awful lot of Foreign Debt Collectors. OK I appreciate that the sum involved is relatively small.
There is legislation coming (maybe in being) for Italy to notify DVLA of traffic infringements committed by UK residents abroad. All in preparatrion of harmonisation in EEC.
dvd
just wondering on the civil side if they register the unpaid fine as a debt in that Country and then farm it out to a Debt Collection Agency to collect? If you look on the WEB there seems an awful lot of Foreign Debt Collectors. OK I appreciate that the sum involved is relatively small.
There is legislation coming (maybe in being) for Italy to notify DVLA of traffic infringements committed by UK residents abroad. All in preparatrion of harmonisation in EEC.
dvd
Dwight VanDriver said:
There is legislation coming (maybe in being) for Italy to notify DVLA of traffic infringements committed by UK residents abroad. All in preparation of harmonisation in EEC.
This is exactly the aspect which concerned me together with the implications for 'fessing up come insurance time etc. Can anyone confirm that this legislation is not yet in effect and being used? I appreciate that it being available and it being actively implemented by the Italian BiBs are two different things
Also just to be clear - I paid the fine immediately on the spot so there is no action outstanding, just the question of whether I (will) have a record over here.
I know this is a relatively minor issue but it'd be nice to know for certain
Edited by minimoog on Thursday 14th September 08:36
The driver disqualification ratification consultation (2001) is here, such procedures may be in place now but the following article suggests not quite as the will is there but the infrastructure looks absent.
EU Mutual Recognition of Traffic Offences states that the initiative is a priority area for the new EU presidency holders (Austria) so something might happen, or not.
At the moment a motoring offence committed in the EU attracting a fine alone looks to be done and dusted without ramifications if the infrastructure to report across borders remains a while away.
In purely practical terms, did the lambrettarineri take your full name, address and driver number? Or just the vehicle reg and fine levied? Or any other combo? If no ID / liccence details were taken it looks more and more like a closed book...but as DvD says, not for long. Even so it won't be retrospective as some EU states will struggle to keep current even after it's gone live. As you paid up there would be no problem returning in the future.
EU Mutual Recognition of Traffic Offences states that the initiative is a priority area for the new EU presidency holders (Austria) so something might happen, or not.
At the moment a motoring offence committed in the EU attracting a fine alone looks to be done and dusted without ramifications if the infrastructure to report across borders remains a while away.
In purely practical terms, did the lambrettarineri take your full name, address and driver number? Or just the vehicle reg and fine levied? Or any other combo? If no ID / liccence details were taken it looks more and more like a closed book...but as DvD says, not for long. Even so it won't be retrospective as some EU states will struggle to keep current even after it's gone live. As you paid up there would be no problem returning in the future.
You have now been granted Citizenship to Italy, you've gained your licence in motoring related gesticulation, healight flashing & horn tooting, speeding exemption & the right to drive in Sicilly unabaited.
Expect no further action to be taken so long as you buy the latest "Car of the Year"
and drive like your the loon who actually owns the road.
Italian drivers
Expect no further action to be taken so long as you buy the latest "Car of the Year"
and drive like your the loon who actually owns the road. Italian drivers
I have never been in a taxi in Italy that din't run red lights. In Naples one evening, when I enquired of the taxi driver why he took such a relaxed attitude to red lights, he said "is only suggestion. In London I do this, I go to jail. In Italy is normal."
I wouldn't worry about it for a moment.
I wouldn't worry about it for a moment.
Running red lights is considered a cavalier offence in Italy, everyone does it. The local BiB probabyl did you 'cos it was a GB reg......
Also Italian burocracy is sooooooo inflated and slow that the Romans are still serving notices for galley slaves!!! Forget it and go back to sleep......
Also Italian burocracy is sooooooo inflated and slow that the Romans are still serving notices for galley slaves!!! Forget it and go back to sleep......
minimoog said:
Hi - I'd appreciate some advice from those who know baout these things. After 22 years of offence-free driving I picked up my first ever ticket whilst on holiday last week. Bimbling through a deserted Italian village main street when a Municipal Policeman leaps out from behind a sign and flags me in.
Thought it was just a papers check but no, he points to the traffic light behind and says I went through on red. I'm not sure if I did or not (not impossible - I was talking, ahem, animatedly to my wife at the time) so I don't argue and am served with a 70 euro fixed penalty ticket. After a few unsucessful attempts to then engage me in idle chit-chat about my home town and how his university is affiliated with it (like I care) he sends me on my way.
What I'd like to know is what are the implications now? I drive a company car mainly, but I assume there is an obligation to contact my wife's insurers (on whose policy I am a named driver) and declare the incident? Is the offence likely to be reported by to DVLC here and result in points? I'm hoping to buy something modestly sporty for myself next year - will my insurance be badly affected?
Thanks for any advice!
Thought it was just a papers check but no, he points to the traffic light behind and says I went through on red. I'm not sure if I did or not (not impossible - I was talking, ahem, animatedly to my wife at the time) so I don't argue and am served with a 70 euro fixed penalty ticket. After a few unsucessful attempts to then engage me in idle chit-chat about my home town and how his university is affiliated with it (like I care) he sends me on my way.
What I'd like to know is what are the implications now? I drive a company car mainly, but I assume there is an obligation to contact my wife's insurers (on whose policy I am a named driver) and declare the incident? Is the offence likely to be reported by to DVLC here and result in points? I'm hoping to buy something modestly sporty for myself next year - will my insurance be badly affected?
Thanks for any advice!
Relax. As yet only reciprocal points./endorsement between Swiss und French.
Ist on card to "harmonise" .. but not yet. Just pay up the fine und no points in your own licence Liebchen. ( I say pay as they may just keep on record.. though if you should change or hire a car...
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