Vacation in Italy: High fines for drivers strike mercilessly!

Vacation in Italy: High fines for drivers strike mercilessly!

Holidaymakers who travel to Italy by car have to be prepared for high fines because the country has introduced strict traffic regulations that recently also apply to foreign drivers. The new penalties that apply as part of a recently passed change to the road traffic regulations are particularly rigorous. Tourists can lose track and incur unexpectedly high costs if they do not adhere to the specific regulations. Loud The West For example, fines for driving with winter tires can amount to up to 1,682 euros if this happens by May 15th.

Driving under the influence of alcohol also carries severe penalties. If you have a blood alcohol content of 0.5 to 0.8 per mille, fines of up to 2,170 euros and a driving license suspension of up to six months can be imposed. If the level is over 1.5 per mille, there is a risk of imprisonment of up to one year and fines of between 1,500 and 6,000 euros. There are reasons for this strict approach: Italy recorded around 3,000 road deaths last year, a figure that Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister, described as an “unacceptable massacre”.

Penalties and regulations in detail

The list of rule violations that cost dearly is long. The most common violations vacationers should be aware of include:

• Handynutzung am Steuer: Bis zu 1.000 Euro Bußgeld.
• Geschwindigkeitsüberschreitungen: Bis zu 880 Euro für 10 km/h zu schnell in der Stadt.
• Essensreste aus dem Auto zu werfen: Bis zu 200 Euro.
• Nicht angelegter Sicherheitsgurt: Bis zu 80 Euro.

Furthermore, the new road traffic regulations significantly increase the penalties for incorrect parking. For example, violations in disabled parking spaces can result in fines of between 330 and 990 euros, while illegal parking in bus lanes can be punished with up to 650 euros. Abandoning pets is also severely punished and can result in a driving license suspension of up to one year and, in serious accidents, prison sentences of up to seven years.

Financial impact on communities

The financial consequences of these measures are significant. In 2024, Italian municipalities generated revenue of 1.7 billion euros from fines, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year. The highest revenue goes to Milan, followed by Rome and Florence, with Milan taking in over 204 million euros. Further increases in fines are also expected in 2025, making driving in Italy even more expensive for tourists Travel reporter.

Overall, it turns out that holidaymakers in Italy are well advised to find out comprehensively about the traffic rules in order to avoid expensive surprises. The new measures are intended not only to increase road safety, but also to significantly reward compliance with the rules.