Speeding abroad - Italy to be precise

[stig]

'ello chaps,

Way back in Feb. I was in Italy with some colleagues and we hired a car. There were two of us as named drivers and we took turns to drive.

Now, it would appear that a nice radar thing sent us a souveneir photo along with a load of Italian legalese, the basic premise of which seems to be that we were speeding (132km/h on what was either a dual carriageway or motorway - dunno which?)

Anyway, we're happy to pay the fine (fair cop and all that), but genuinely have no way of knowing who was driving at the time?

It doesn't help that neither of us speak a word of Italian

So, do we just pay the fine using the pre-paid envelope (and no licence) and wait and see, or are the feds gonna lock us up when we inevitably next have to go to Italia?

Cheers

[puggit]

Doesn't the stinking human rights act specify that everything should be in your language?

Write back politely in English and ask them to translate it for you

[Jinx]

Speeding in Italy??? I didn't know such a thing was possible - the posted numbers on the signs obviously had no meaning to the locals when I was driving from Naples to Sorento a couple of years ago. Pehaps the fine was for only travelling 132 Kph?

[nel]

Blimey - I toured the whole country at 180 kph and had no problems (other than a couple of bicycles and fridge lying on the motorway ).

I'm sure if you just send them the money with a brief note in English saying you have no idea who was driving they'll be happy as Larry - they're only after your €s.

[flemke]

nel said:

I'm sure if you just send them the money with a brief note in English saying you have no idea who was driving they'll be happy as Larry - they're only after your €s.

By all means, they don't care who was driving.

[nubbin]

Why don't you just not bother? The Italian Police are hardly going to come knocking at your door, and there's no EU agreement to engage British plod in tracking down you particular pair of evil, dangerous criminals.

[deva link]

Is there nay chance they'll pass it back to hire company who'll just whack it on the credit card (plus a hefty admin fee) that was used to hire the car?

[Parrot of Doom]

Sending the money to Italy will likely just mean your hard earned ends up in some official's back pocket. Corruption is a way of life over there....

[towman]

deva link said:

Is there nay chance they'll pass it back to hire company who'll just whack it on the credit card (plus a hefty admin fee) that was used to hire the car?

It`s a common "trick" for smaller hire companiest to whack the charge on your credit card as soon as they give your details to trafpol.

[blueyes]

stig said:

'ello chaps, Way back in Feb. I was in Italy with some colleagues and we hired a car. There were two of us as named drivers and we took turns to drive. Now, it would appear that a nice radar thing sent us a souveneir photo along with a load of Italian legalese, the basic premise of which seems to be that we were speeding (132km/h on what was either a dual carriageway or motorway - dunno which?) Anyway, we're happy to pay the fine (fair cop and all that), but genuinely have no way of knowing who was driving at the time? It doesn't help that neither of us speak a word of Italian So, do we just pay the fine using the pre-paid envelope (and no licence) and wait and see, or are the feds gonna lock us up when we inevitably next have to go to Italia? Cheers

Did it arrive recorded delivery?

If not, just bin it.

If it did, write back in your best complicated English asking for a full translation.

Whatever you do, DON'T send your licence. They don't want it and they'll lose it anyway.

[jensen lunn]

Send them a letter in Enlish saying "not known at this address", trust me it works, and they arent going to come over here and get you.

[jaybkay]

In the unlikely event the "fine" ends up on a credit card, simply inform the credit card company that money has been stolen from your account and could they sort it out. The CCC then has to refund your money and charge back whoever took it without your authority. Don't admit you know anything about it to anyone - toss the letter you have - the Italians haven't got a clue if it has ever been delivered.