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this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2024
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I got a fine for not getting my bus ticket stamped in Florence, Italy. Apparently if you paid it the same day it was one price and that price doubled after a week, month, etc.
Didn't matter the machine failed when I stamped it because it was out of ink. I even tried to stamp it in front of the officer. He said I could appeal it in person in court. They know tourists aren't going to appear in court to appeal. I felt scammed but after calming myself down and paying the fine the officer apologized and told me in a few words he hated his job.
I was about to comment, that here in Italy, many fines have a price if you pay in few days and give up your right to fight back, and another price if you pay before the fine is due and keep your right to seek help from a judge.
Anyway, nobody told you, that if you want to see a judge that was at least 40$ ten years ago. Just to see him once, no warranty given. And even if you can get your fine cancelled, that 40$ were gone. So at the end you pay and also pay soon so to pay less. I also hate it.
At least you have decent public transportation. My beach town has 1 bus that doesn't even run every day.
All things considered I loved my time in Italy but I suppose it's always nice as a tourist.
They also can't force a tourist to pay a fine. And it's not a criminal matter, so they'll never be able to deny you visa on these grounds.
When the same happened to me I laughed into their faces, they wrote down my passport data and address and kept sending me snail mail with threats for years till I moved. I'm still waiting for the day they'll force me to pay the 30€ or whatever that was.
I was told in no uncertain terms If I didn't give them my passport info they would arrest me.
Which is 100% true, and it seems pretty clear from the comment that you replied to that they provided their passport info.
On a separate note it's the same with traffic violations. If you refuse to identify yourself, or your vehicle has been caught speeding and you refuse to give information on who was the driver, you'll get arrested in no time. Otherwise it's a 20-50€ fine, and you can probably not pay it, if you'll never catch another one.
This is a legal advice.
Yes, yes, give them your passport, and address, and a phone number, and whatever else they need. What are they gonna do with them? Send debt collectors from Rome to the middle-of-nowhere, Teneese?
When you face a system that was clearly designed by morons, you should remember that they will be just as dumb when it comes to actually enforcing the system.
(Just PSA, if you do live in, Rome, and repeatedly ride without a ticket, after repeated offenses, you'll eventually catch a fine of 1k€+ and if you won't pay that, they'll put you in jail for a few weeks.)
This is a legal advice.
Well, that's rather reassuring.