Should I pay an Italian parking fine?

[Pinch]

Hey all

Just got back from my Euro trip. Fantastic. Many reviews and advices to follow but until then I have a quick question that some of the well travelled members may be able to answer, should I pay an Italian parking fine?

Went to Florence for the day and parked along the river in meter parking. Paid up with all the coins I had, then came back to top it up before it ran out. Set my little clock thing on the dash too. So all good I thought, except it appears I parked one spot over in a white lined spot, not the blue lined spot (which is meter parking). I found this out later. I got a fine for parking in the white spot which is resident parking. The fine is 36 Euro (about $60).

Its on a green sheet and I can't work out pretty much any of what it says, except pagamento on-line followed by an italian web address. It took me about 15 mins to work out why I got booked when I thought I had done the right thing.

I asked a guy at a Venice hotel on our last night in Italy to translate it for me, but he said no, don't pay it. He thought I was crazy to think of paying it. 'You live in Australia, we don't even pay them here.' He was going to tear it up, but I asked for it back.

Now I don't think that Italy has reciprical arrangements with the NSW RTA to cancel my licence or rego if I don't pay (sarcasm there), but I do fear that whoever issued the fine might chase it up through their system to the car hire place, who in turn might pass it on to me with additional costs.

I am wondering if the Italian parking fines are like ours, ie they generally do get followed up, or do they not bother chasing them?

I see I have 3 options. 1) pay the fine, 2) wait and see what happens, or 3) write pleading ignorance as a stupid tourist (using a free on-line translator).

Any thoughts?

Don't pay it. They can't pull you up.

If you got a fine in another state they still can't collect it off you, paying an Italian fine would be ridiculous.

If the fine was a bit bigger they might issue a warrant which would only come up if you returned, but they'll most likely write it off and you'll be right.

[DJM83]

My mate got a fine in Canada for 'jay walking' and never paid it, never heard a thing since.

[pauljh74]

Will you be driving again in Italy soon? If not, don't worry about it unless the car hire mob send you a bill - or you wake up with a horse's severed head beside you. :

[Falcon Coupe]

You better pay it or we will see a reverse Mokbel style deportation !

[gtfpv]

only pay it if you wake up to a yellow rose on your doorstep.

[V3RSAC3]

meh, italians are too lazy to chase it up, so dont worry about it!

haha n no im not racist, i know what were like :P

[jaydee]

Mate save up some spending money, hope they extradite you, front up to Court and pay the fine and have a holiday, you'll only have to buy a return ticket.

[aussiblue]

Don't worry be happy but remember Nick and Tonio may be around later in their Black Chrysler 300C and wearing black suits, white ties and dark sunnnies to play you a little tune on their .45 calibre violins.

[manny_papa]

customs will get ya next time you go through the airport ;)
like that tv show, airport security.

[snappy]

i think you will be right u.s.a different story though. I know a builder who went there for holiday got a parking fine . didn't pay it and returned home . he went back seven years later for another holiday pulled over for somthing which i don't remember .had a warrant for arrest for unpaid tickets. Ended spending a week in jail for the unpaid parking fine .

[ebxr8240]

Sheesh from the parking I have seen over there??
It must have parked real bad...
Do you own a horse ???
If not, don't pay...

[guitarman]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

or you wake up with a horse's severed head beside you. :

Or even worse....A HORSES HOOF!:ymca:

[Ringo]

Nup...don't pay it.


Even if you end up in an Italian jail i'm sure the food will be pretty good..

[sgt_doofey]

I'm still waiting for a fine I got in Perugia in Italy for doing something or other. I think it was for driving somewhere where I wasn't supposed to.
Anyway, the Italian Authorities chased up the hire car company 4 months after the incident to obtain my details (11 Euro charge from hire car company). I was there in October last year and I still haven't received the fine.
Three things should hopefully work in my favour:

1. Italian Efficiency or lack thereof
2. Credit Card expires at the end of this year
3. We've moved house since the trip

I'm not going to pay it and I think it was about 80 Euro. If I ever go back to Italy and get asked about it, I'm just going to say I never received it and then just drag it out as long as possible.
If you are worried about getting pulled up by Italian authorities at the airport, then simply fly in to a neighbouring country and catch the train to Italy instead.

[jcxr]

Heck, I just remembered, I didnt pay a parking ticket in Tassie 22 years ago

[Pinch]

Thanks for the responses. You guys are funny!

My thinking was that if its likely to be followed up, I would just pay and save admin costs from the hire company. Sounds like its unlikely though, so will wait and see.

Thanks all.

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by Pinch

My thinking was that if its likely to be followed up, I would just pay and save admin costs from the hire company. Sounds like its unlikely though, so will wait and see.

If you want to be sure, then just cancel the credit card that you gave them and they really don't have an easy way of getting money off you.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by jcxr

Heck, I just remembered, I didnt pay a parking ticket in Tassie 22 years ago

same here 20 years ago.

[XR6-VCT-2000]

Rip it up , then send it back to them .

[J.C.]

Pay it! Or they will send you a horses head followed by a pair of concrete boots.

[Silversurfer]

you no payup , me salami your face , wtf, send them a postcard from albury, they love ya.

whats a matter you , shudup your face
cazzo lungo.

[Silversurfer]

by the way I can say this whatever I want , I'm a paesano captito!

[StAndArdAU]

wasnt there a guy who went on holiday in NZ this year only to be arrested upon arrival. Turns out the last time he was there (20yrs ago or sumtin) he paid for a pizza with a cheque that bounced. Was court ordered to pay back $25 or something for the pizza. anyone remember this?

Yeah I read about that. When I was driving in NZ, I was speeding everywhere, thinking that I was immune from the law.

I told myself I wouldn't pay any ticket I received.

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Originally Posted by Ringo

Nup...don't pay it.


Even if you end up in an Italian jail i'm sure the food will be pretty good..

The spaghetti marinara belissimo. Pay it with austaralian monopoly money they will think its real aussie dollars.

[Laminge]

Originally Posted by jcxr

Heck, I just remembered, I didnt pay a parking ticket in Tassie 22 years ago

Originally Posted by gtfpv

same here 20 years ago.

Not related are we? :

[scoupedy]

One of my seppo mates got a fine in Australia, he got advise (professional) that said if you plan on coming back to Australia then pay the fine as they may stop you from entering the country next time if the fine is unpaid.
If that is the same in Italy this may include the whole EU.

Originally Posted by scoupedy

One of my seppo mates got a fine in Australia, he got advise (professional) that said if you plan on coming back to Australia then pay the fine as they may stop you from entering the country next time if the fine is unpaid.
If that is the same in Italy this may include the whole EU.

True, but realistically the fine will just get written off if sufficient time is given before your next visit.

Given the fine is not too excessive.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by Laminge

Not related are we? :

hahaha . i had to think about that one for a while before i got it .

Thats us on the left in your avatar. :