What attracted the attention of the local police, and in particular of the anti-tax evasion unit, were the bright colored signs posted in various places in the city, which advertised the opening of a new car wash business. Starting from the unauthorized signs, however, a series of other irregularities emerged, as well as fiscal and tax anomalies, up to and including the use of illegal labour.
The whole story began a few months ago, with the opening of a new car wash business in the Modena Est area, advertised with several color posters measuring one meter by one meter, posted in various places in the city. At least nine conspicuous signs identified by the agents of the Anti-evasion Unit of the Local Police of Modena, all without administrative authorization (Scia) and for which, therefore, the advertising fee had not been paid to Ica Srl, the concessionaire of the Municipality to which the tax due must be paid.
The expected sanctions were therefore triggered, for a total of 1,440 euros paid by the company that owns the car wash, a company based in Faenza, whose legal representative is a 26-year-old Egyptian citizen not resident in Modena.
Furthermore, from checks carried out with the collaboration of the municipal staff of the Environment Sector and Arpae, it emerged that the same company also did not have the single environmental authorization for industrial waste (Sac). But the irregularities that emerged are not over. The checks carried out on site by the agents of the anti-tax evasion unit of the local police and by the Arpae technicians also ascertained that four young Egyptians from including a 19-year-old employed “off the books”, as he does not have a regular employment contract. The irregular use of labor was therefore reported to the Modena Labor Inspectorate for the relevant measures (sanction of several thousand euros against the owner of the business and suspension of the activity unless the procedures for regularizing the non-hired clerical staff).
Furthermore, the owner who started the business in the city in December 2023 and who simultaneously manages five other similar car wash activities in municipalities in Romagna, was reported to the Revenue Agency, having been ascertained during the investigation also fiscal and tax anomalies.
In the first three months of the year, Nat operators checked 163 advertising installations and imposed 72 administrative fines with amounts ranging from 50 to 421 euros depending on the type of irregularity. As regards the municipal territory, before installing signs, plaques and any other advertising system, even on mobile vehicles, it is necessary to contact the Suap (One-stop shop for productive activities) in via Santi 40 for authorization and Ica srl, in via Ungaretti 20 , for the possible payment of the advertising fee.
