Traffic infringement Pisa

[eightseventhree]

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 the letter?

[spivvy]

might be worth posting in speed plod and law or general gassing

i got a parking fine in italy this week for 36 euros' didn't know how to contest or argue it so paid it just to be on the safe side
italian parking signs are crap and not very clear

[123quackers]

I was in pisa in march this year, went over to florence had lunch put next destination into satnav, Have now got to fines for being in restricted zone within 2 mins of each other...so if any one has the answer on contesting this I would like to know also...Must say that hertz never lost satnav is clearly not updated if it took me through a restricted zone...

[catso]

123quackers said:

so if any one has the answer on contesting this I would like to know also

Just ignore it, it'll go away. Pisa in particular seem to like trying it on with the fines by post, If they contact you tell them to 'vaffanculo'

[Nikkie]

From what I have understood fines must be notified within 180 days, (I hope this is right as my 180 days is up next week from the 3.45 hour trip from Genova to Rome)

I'd ignore it, if the tower 's wonky the camera's must be too.

[blueyes]

Nikkie said:

3.45 hour trip from Genova to Rome)

Pah... 90mph average... what were you driving?... an Ape?

[Nikkie]

159 jtdm I did stop 3 times for and a flirt with a 997S

[SachaR]

Nikkie said:

From what I have understood fines must be notified within 180 days, (I hope this is right as my 180 days is up next week from the 3.45 hour trip from Genova to Rome)

I'd ignore it, if the tower 's wonky the camera's must be too.

Watch out! As there is a 3rd party involved, ie the hire car company, it is 180 days from when they receive the details from the hire car company. I checked this with my cousin who is a Vigile ie local policeman here in Udine.

Sacha

[so called]

I got a fine through Hertz in the US.
Hertz were billed for the fine and I had to pay them back.
Suprised its not the same in Italy as I would have thought they have no jurisdiction across borders.

[eightseventhree]

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 st:

“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