Over the past five years, violations of Italy’s Highway Code have cost motorists a staggering €8.6 billion. In 2025 alone, fines amounted to €1.9 billion, confirming a steadily rising trend. Leading the list are some of the country’s largest cities - Milan, Rome, Bologna and Florence - all governed by centre-left administrations.

Officially, tougher enforcement and stricter penalties are justified as measures to improve road safety and reduce accidents. However, many drivers and observers argue that these policies primarily serve to boost municipal coffers, turning traffic fines into a structural source of revenue for local authorities. Within this framework, the recently introduced widespread 30 km/h speed limit is seen by critics less as a safety initiative and more as yet another way for city governments to “cash in” on motorists.