A little break from Puglia posts to bring you a bit of ridiculous Italy…
We arrived home to find a letter from the Comune waiting for us. These letters rarely bring good news and sure enough the letter was letting me know that I had missed paying something.
I went to the Comune to sort out the problem. The letter waiting for me informed me that in 2011 I had driven in a restricted zone somewhere and had failed to pay the fine for €79.50. An interest fee of €14.80 and another fee of €7.54 brings the total to €162.06. Add another €5.88 to get to €167.94. I have 5 days to pay this.
I have never received a notice about this in 8 years! I am in Italy for 6 months each year. When I am not here a good and trusted friend checks my apartment and collects mail.
Neither of us has sighted anything about this in 8 years.
The fine will be paid because it is not worth trying to fight it. I would get nowhere, but a complaint will be made.
We have history with these things. A few years ago we went the wrong way in Bologna and a few months later, when we were back in Australia a registered letter arrived. My friend tried to collect it, but despite giving her authority the helpful person at the local post office would not give it to her.
When I arrived a month later I collected the letter which turned out to be 2 fines for driving in a restricted zone within 10 minutes of each other, 1 for €80 and the other for €90. I paid them.
A year later I was sent another notice asking me to pay the fines. I sent a letter saying that I had paid them. A return letter informed me that I had paid them late and had to pay again. €340 for a wrong turn!
Just as well I wake to this each day.
Siamo in Italia.
As you know, Italy is renown for a variety of run-arounds – oh the price you pay for your time with absolute beauty.
By: aFrankAngle on May 17, 2019
at 11:11 am
Yes, it is just as well Italy is beautiful.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 11:38 am
Love to this post, because it is so typical of ITALY. I especially got a kick out of how you received a notification of something that occurred eight years ago… As usual I love the pictures. Your choice to pay this because fighting it isn’t worth it makes sense but I’m glad you will make a complaint good luck
By: Margie Miklas on May 17, 2019
at 11:23 am
My Italian friend is going to help with the complaint.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 11:38 am
Good to know. Good luck
By: Margie Miklas on May 18, 2019
at 3:38 am
Wow – incompetence, or what!
By: Jan on May 17, 2019
at 11:42 am
…or what?
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 12:04 pm
I think that you should check on the validity of that notice, as I understand that in Italy there is a statutory time limit of 5 years…
By: Mulino Dominillo on May 17, 2019
at 11:55 am
I thought so too.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 12:05 pm
Here is proof
http://www.euroconsumatori.org/82058d82507.html
By: Mulino Dominillo on May 17, 2019
at 12:07 pm
Thank you for that. I am going to discuss the whole thing with my Italian friend this afternoon.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 12:40 pm
Vero, siamo in Italia
By: Elizabeth Litzow on May 17, 2019
at 11:57 am
Sometimes it can be trying.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 12:05 pm
Dear Debra,
My husband and I are planning a driving trip from Rome all the way to Sicily and I keep hearing about the headaches when driving in Italy, namely their penchant for handing out tickets for misunderstood driving maneuvers. Do you have any tips on understanding the Italian “rules of the road”. Thanks so much, Derin
By: Derin Gemignani on May 17, 2019
at 2:26 pm
Hi Derin, I would try to do a bit of research and learn some road signs. Speed limits are obviously important…130 kilometres per hour on Autostradas, 110 on superstradas, 90 or 70 on smaller roads, 50 on others and towns and cites can choose their own speeds for inner cities. Keep an eye out for signs.
Zona Limitato is a sign to look for. It means only resident’s cars can enter unless you are staying at a hotel that can organise a permit.
Senso unico means one way.
There are occasionally speed cameras in use.
Just be alert. Italian drivers are generally very good. They drive too fast and they take risks, but they handle cars well.
Good luck.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 2:37 pm
Re Italian Drivers: in September 2014 we visited Italy (had a wonderful month) and spent a little time on the Amalfi Coast where we were STUNNED by the skill of the drivers along the coast road. Scary! Incredible though how they handled driving that road. Still dreaming of living in Italy BUT….unfortunately it is all or nothing for us (68 and 71) as we cannot afford to live in both Australia and Italy and would have to make the commitment to move permanently. That too is scary at our age and without the language. Enjoy reading your posts.
By: Irene Hay on May 18, 2019
at 9:16 am
I love your attitude.
By: paninigirl on May 17, 2019
at 4:30 pm
You get used to things like this.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 6:23 pm
Yes, I have had similar and the systems are just crazy (not rational at all).
By: Annie on May 17, 2019
at 7:41 pm
It is just the way it is.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 17, 2019
at 8:01 pm
Oh dear…..but the benefits are so good!
By: Kerry & Jim on May 18, 2019
at 12:39 pm
Just as well!
By: Debra Kolkka on May 21, 2019
at 2:40 pm
Take trains…
By: The Year I Touched My Toes on May 19, 2019
at 12:46 am
We do when we can, but it is too restrictive.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 21, 2019
at 2:41 pm
Nothing like an idyllic village tucked in the mountains to calm the nerves. However, I still think those fines are very unfair. Bureaucracy is a rough grind. Despite this, how can anyone resist the charms of beautiful Italy?!
By: Sandra Hoopmann on May 21, 2019
at 8:56 am
Sometimes Italy’s charms wear thin.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 21, 2019
at 2:41 pm
Thank you for the consistently wonderful stories and beautiful pictures of my beloved Italy. Your posts always brighten my day!
By: Alisa Abbo on May 21, 2019
at 2:12 pm
Thank you for following and thank you for commenting.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 21, 2019
at 2:42 pm
We have also had our share of woes- of the parking ticket kinds – four times!
Twice, we haven’t seen the signs way down the other end of the parking area stating that it was market day. One involved a visit to the Questura, then a taxi trip to retrieve the car, after a €100 fine.
But, the serendipity of discovering new places, borgos, views etc, when driving certainly make up for a lot!
By: Anne Of Todi on May 26, 2019
at 4:17 pm
I would like to know what we did 8 years ago, but I don’t have it in me to go to the police station to find out.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 26, 2019
at 5:02 pm
Frustrating to say the least….
By: Roz MacAllan on June 20, 2019
at 7:57 pm
This is life in Italy.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 21, 2019
at 7:22 am