GROSSETO. Paradoxical case, a healthcare worker from the Grosseto hospital received a fine for “excessively slow speed” delivered to his home, based on article 141, paragraphs 6 and 11 of the Highway Code. An episode which, beyond the amount of the fine (42 euros and no points deducted from the licence), raised a hornet’s nest, due to the fact that it was an unusual fine, raised on the four-lane Aurelia state road.
The fine
The dispute, which took place with a mobile station of the provincial police in a lay-by in the Uccellina area (a few meters from the crossroads for Montiano in the direction of Grosseto) was raised by officers who did not immediately detect the infringement, as they were «busy – we read in the report – in carrying out the electronic speed control service at a mobile station”.
The law
The Highway Code provides for a sanction for “excessive slowness”, which however only applies in certain conditions, such as in the case in which a vehicle obstructs traffic and causes queues. A rule applicable, however, in the presence of a blue sign with a white background, which is located on the motorway, certainly not in this case: in the province of Grosseto there are no motorways, and the only sign present in the area is the red one which invites not to exceed 70 per hour. There has also been a ruling from the Court of Cassation on incidents of this kind, according to which the motorist who, with his slow pace, obstructs traffic must be stopped by the officers and asked to pull over to let other cars pass or sanctioned for his behavior. In this case, however, the fine arrived weeks after the detection. «I travel on that stretch almost daily for family and professional reasons – underlines the sanctioned motorist – and I know perfectly well that I have to stay within the speed limits, also because everyone knows that the provincial police are always hidden at that point behind a hedge. Having said that, it’s truly incredible to be fined because you were going at 30 or 40, I couldn’t even be precise about my speed. I was certainly under 70. Obviously I will pay the 42 euros, without appealing to the Prefecture or to the justice of the peace. The absurdity of the measure remains, which I had never heard of.”
The commander
The provincial police commander himself echoes this, Stefano Pacini: «It’s the first time this has happened. Among other things, the instrument does not even detect a speed lower than 50-60 km per hour. In the past, it happened that motorists were fined for suddenly slowing down on that stretch and standing in front of the speed camera, even to protest. This is not the case: the motorist who received the fine went on his way calmly, thinking more about staying within the limits of 70. To be honest, fines like this are a loss, because the posting is carried out from an external company. In the next few days, however – he concludes – we will look into the matter further”.
