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Italy to double fines for disabled parking space violations

Parking fines in Italy are set to double for able-bodied people caught taking up disabled parking spaces, as part of an update to the country's Highway Code.

Published: 6 September 2021 18:09 CEST
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP

The minimum penalty for illegally occupying a disabled parking space will increase from 85 to 168 euros, with the maximum fine set at 672 euros according to news agency Ansa.

Meanwhile individual municipalities will be offered incentives to allow disabled people to park free of charge in their standard ‘blue line’ paid parking spaces when no disabled parking is available, according to the trade publication Quattro Ruote.

The changes are part of a slate of reforms laid out in Italy’s new ‘infrastructure decree’, which was approved by the government on Thursday but won’t come into force until its official publication in Italy’s Government Gazette. This is expected to happen within the next few days.

Parliament then has 60 days to convert the proposed reforms into law.

READ ALSO: ‘Expect the unexpected’: What you need to know about driving in Italy

Other provisions contained in the decree include the creation of additional parking spaces for pregnant people and parents of children younger than two years old, often called ‘stalli rosa‘ or ‘pink spaces’ in Italian.

Investments in safety checks on railway infrastructures and dams will be sped up, and regions will be granted additional funds to step up inspections on public transport and enforce guidelines, according to news agency Dire.

Photo: Marco BERTORELLO / AFP

The decree also provides for the foundation of a ‘Centre for innovation and sustainability in infrastructure and mobility’ to support the functions of Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility and implement projects proposed in the country’s post-pandemic National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr), also referred to as the ‘recovery fund’.

READ ALSO: Fast trains and extended building bonus: How Italy’s EU recovery plan could affect you

The Pnrr is part of the European program known as Next Generation EU, a 750-billion-euro European recovery fund.

The plan has allocated 31.5 billion euros to develop a modern, sustainable transport infrastructure across all of Italy, according to the website of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.

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Reader question: How can I buy a telepass for my trip to Italy?

For long-distance travel by road in Italy, you may want to use the Telepass system - but how can you sign up before you arrive in the country?

Published: 16 April 2024 12:12 CEST
Reader question: How can I buy a telepass for my trip to Italy?

Question: “I’ve tried to buy a telepass for Italy’s autostrade from a German company online, but they refuse to send the unit to my United Kingdom address. Do you know how I can buy a telepass electronic travel unit before my trip?”

If you use Italy’s autostrade or motorways, you’ve no doubt heard about the Telepass system.

It’s not essential to have a Telepass, but it can be a more convenient (and cheaper) way to use Italy’s motorways, as well as to pay for parking, and even for other transport services like taxis, trains and ferries.

The Telepass is best known as a device that you stick in your vehicle which lets you pass through Italy’s motorway tolls without queuing at the gates or having to stop and pay with cash or card.

If you have it, you can drive through dedicated toll lanes (you’ll see yellow lines and sometimes a yellow ‘T’ on the road). The barrier will lift automatically and you can drive right through once you hear the device beep.

Telepass Europe plans also allow the device to be used on motorways in Spain, France and Portugal.

READ ALSO: What is Italy’s Telepass and how do you use it?

People living in Italy usually pay a monthly subscription for the device, but there’s also a pay-as-you-go option too with a one-off activation charge of €10 which is usually more convenient for visitors.

See the official Telepass website for details of current offers and pricing plans. 

You can sign up directly via the Telepass website or the app, through which you’ll also make payments and keep track of your subscription and expenses.

There are also various third-party websites offering Telepass plans, but as our reader found, these do not always ship to addresses outside of mainland Europe.

READ ALSO: How to pay Italian traffic fines from abroad

The Telepass website says the device can be sent out to your home address. There does not appear to be any limitation on the countries to which the device can be shipped, but if in doubt you can contact the Telepass customer service team via their support page.

You can also choose to pick up your new device from a Telepass point, located at gas stations around Italy.

Do you have a question about travel in Italy? Get in touch with the team at The Local by email.

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