I visited Florence about 11 months ago and rented a car during my stay. I recently received a notice for a speeding violation, indicating I was over the limit by more than 10 km/h but under 40 km/h. The fine listed is €375, which increases to €388 on the payment page.
According to the notice, the penalty would have been €150 if paid within 5 days, €201 within 60 days, and €375 after that. However, I only just received the notification almost a year later, which raises concerns about whether this is legally valid.
The letter directs me to a website for payment, which appears to be legitimate based on some research, though it looks outdated and made me hesitant to enter my payment details. The ticket also mentions camera evidence, but no photos were included. I have requested proof through the portal, but I am unsure how long that process takes or whether they are required to provide it.
I have read that there may be a five-year statute of limitations. Since I do not plan to return to Italy within that timeframe, I am unsure if ignoring the fine would have any consequences. I also travel to Europe regularly and am concerned whether this could affect future car rentals in other countries.
In the end, I decided to pay the fine at the current rate to avoid complications. My hesitation came from the delayed notification, the involvement of a third-party collection system, and the fact that the fine already included late penalties despite not receiving earlier notice. I have always paid previous tickets promptly, and this situation felt unusual and unclear.
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