Unique laws in Italy?

Question

Are there any unique laws in Italy someone going there on vacation would need to know? I'm doing a project for social studies where we have to plan a two week trip somewhere, and one of the things I need to include in my research are any unique laws the country has. I've been having a hard time with this part...

Answer 1

When you check into a hotel they take your passport and file you with the police. It's standard procedure for them, but Americans tend to freak out.

Also try looking up driving laws. In major downtown areas there are certain street you can not drive on. They have traffic cameras set up and you get a big ticket in the mail when you get home.

Answer 2

Restaurants are required by law to give customers official receipts. You are required to have the receipt when you leave the restaurant. The financial police can ask the for the receipt and go in to compare it against the restaurant records to make sure they're reporting everything for tax purposes.

I've never been stopped myself, but I have seen a couple of people that were asked for receipts a few years ago. This doesn't seem to be so much of an issue lately.

There's a law against killing a cat; the consequences are a 10,000 euro fine, and up to 3 years in jail. There is a huge population of stray cats in Rome - they're featured on postcards and some tourist souvenirs.

Tourists need to know that train tickets need to be validated (time stamped) before they get on a train. There's a fine for not doing so. The reason for validating the tickets is that they aren't just day of purchase. You can use them for up to two months after the purchase date.

http://www.popfi.com/2008/02/28/public-c...

Answer 3

The highway lanes have different rules than in the US. In Italy, the lane closer to the exit is the slower one. If you want to go faster you need to get to the inner lane. You can't go faster on the outer lane than a car in the inner lane.

You can go to the beach topless and nobody minds, as long as you are topless on the beach and not in its proximity.

When you buy something that isn't "in saldo" (discounted), you have, by law, some days to take it back if you change your mind and you'll be reimbursed.