IMPORTANT: Driving in Italy 2006 - new rules

Italian traffic police are getting really SERIOUS :-(

A friend of mine with a Swiss car received a 400 Euros speeding fine from 10 months ago in central Italy. I also know from insider sources that the for the police now "the borders are open" - meaning that ANY foreign registration car committing a violation will be tracked down and will be sent a fine. And the fines are very bad - expect over 1000 Euros for doing 200+ Km/h on the Autostrada.

So for next year's Tuscany rally I advise to follow some basic rules:

1) DO NOT go at high speed constantly on the motorway - the police use tele-lasers that do not flash, you'll never know you've been nicked.

2) DO NOT speed when passing service areas on the motorway - these are favourite spots for mobile speed cameras.

3) ALWAYS scan the side of the road and the overhead bridges ahead - especially on open, straight roads that's where the police will be waiting

4) BEWARE of unmarked Subaru Impreza WRX, Alfa 156/159 and BMW 3-series Station Wagons: these are the most common police cars equipped with Tele-Laser. Often they will chase you and encourage you to speed up. The good news: once they've clocked you they HAVE to stop you on the spot, or the fine is not valid.

5) NEVER speed within town limits - the local police makes big bucks with speed fines and ALL of Italy is now littered with nasty speed traps. The good news: unless they stop you there it's unlikely that local cops have the resources to track down a foreign car. Also, a new law has been passed which BANS fixed speed cameras OUTSIDE town limits.

6) ON THE MOTORWAYS, fixed speed cameras by law must always be indicated with a signal a couple of Kms before.

CONCLUSION: enjoy the drive on twisty tuscan roads in the Apennines, but do not think you can get away with travelling from Milan to Genova at 270 Km/h - it's not that relaxed anymore.