Traffic fine from Italy: should I pay it or not?

Fines

If you drive too fast or unknowingly enter a low-emission zone in Italy, you will probably get a fine sent to your home. Sometimes, you only receive the fine months or even years later. This is because the Italian authorities first need to find out who owns or rents the car, motorbike, caravan, or other vehicle. Once they know, you should receive the fine by registered mail within 360 days. So, it may take some time before you find out you have a fine.

Payment deadlines

The fine usually shows different amounts with different payment deadlines. Italy uses a discount system: the sooner you pay, the bigger the discount. You have up to 60 days to pay the fine with a discount. These 60 days start on the day the registered letter with the fine is sent to you.

Debt collection

If you don’t pay the fine on time, you will probably receive a collection letter later. The debt collector almost always charges extra fees for late payment.

The ECC often hears from consumers who say they never received the original fine or didn’t get it within the payment deadline. Later, they suddenly get a collection letter and must pay extra fees. These extra fees can be very high. The problem for consumers is that the Italian authorities don’t have to prove that the registered letter was actually received. Once the fine is sent by registered mail, the payment deadlines start. In Italy, a traffic fine expires only after 5 years.

Disputing a traffic fine

Do you disagree with a traffic fine? Then you can file an appeal with the Italian authorities. You explain in a letter why you disagree and include any proof you have. Here are some things to know if you want to appeal a fine:

• Appeal to the Prefect or Giudice di Pace
  There are two ways to dispute a fine. Which one applies to you will be in the letter from the Italian authorities. Here’s what you can generally expect.
  • Prefect procedure
    You write a letter explaining why you disagree with the fine and send it by registered mail. If the Prefect rejects your dispute, the fine doubles. This is a risk. Usually, you don’t have to attend a hearing in Italy for this process.
  • Giudice di Pace procedure
    This process is a bit different. You also send a letter explaining your disagreement by registered mail. When the Giudice di Pace receives your dispute, you will be invited to a hearing in Italy. You are expected to attend. You can also ask a lawyer to attend on your behalf.
• File an appeal within 60 days
  You have 60 days to dispute the fine from the day it was sent. In practice, you might only receive the fine months or years later. This means you sometimes have little or no time to dispute it.
• Appeals must be in Italian
  If you dispute an Italian fine, your letter must be in Italian. There are online translators that can help you.

Disputing collection fees

If you receive a collection letter unfairly for an unpaid fine, contact the collection agency immediately. They must prove you had a chance to pay the fine without extra fees.

• If the agency can prove the fine was sent on time (within 360 days) but to the wrong address, you only have to pay the fine, not the collection fees.
• If they cannot prove when or where the fine was sent, you don’t have to pay the fine or the fees.

Always send an email or letter to the collection agency, so you have proof of your correspondence and any agreements made with the collection agency.