Foreign license plates in the sights of the police: hundreds of sanctions

Crackdown by the police on vehicles circulating with foreign license plates. The military of Napoliin fact, they have implemented a campaign of controls at the request of the Interregional Command “Ogaden”. In particular, in the last 15 days, they have carried out dozens of fixed or dynamic checkpoints, with the aim of “capturing” vehicles with foreign license plates. The data, the Army explains, “are alarming when interpreted statistically. Reassuring if we estimate the percentage of sanctions, irregularities and seizures carried out to stem a growing phenomenon“.

In detail, during the 15 days of the control campaign: 418 vehicles checked, 118 highway code sanctions, 17 administrative stops notified, 19 cars and motorcycles seized, 15 people reported. In essence, 28% of foreign license plates are irregular, more than a quarter of the total. The police, in a note, explain why they chose a foreign license plate but also what the risks are “linked to their indiscriminate circulation“.

“Foreign license plates in Italya – they detail – they can be exploited to avoid tax obligations or deviate from the rules of the Highway Code. Here are some examples: evasion of car tax and insurance: Those who drive with foreign license plates can avoid paying Italian car taxes, such as car tax, and even save on compulsory insurance, which in some countries can have lower costs than to Italy; Avoidance of administrative sanctions: Some motorists mistakenly believe that using foreign license plates can avoid Highway Code sanctions; Avoidance of environmental regulations: Some limited traffic zones (ZTL) and environmental areas (such as Low Emission Zones) are subject to restrictions for more polluting vehicles. With a foreign license plate, drivers may think they can bypass controls and access these areas without complying with environmental requirements; False foreign plates: in some cases, counterfeit foreign plates are used, perhaps with numbers similar to legitimate vehicles, to hide stolen vehicles or evade checks on mandatory inspections or vehicle safety requirements“. All these are “illicit behaviors” and if verified, the military recalls, “entail sanctions“.