Despite the efforts of the Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini to reform the system of fines and speed cameras, traffic fines continue to represent a significant source of revenue for local authorities. In the first ten months of 2024, Italian families spent approximately 1.3 billion euros on violations of the Highway Code. These data were provided by Codacons, which analyzed the revenue generated by traffic fines. As of October 17, the total amount of fines in Italy reached 1,294,799,772 euros.

Lombardy is the region with the highest revenue, totaling 324 million euros, followed by Lazio with 130 million and Emilia Romagna with 129 million. In contrast, Molise is in last place with only 1.4 million euros in revenue from fines in the period considered.

In large cities with over 250,000 inhabitants, Milan leads the ranking of fines collected with a total of 128.7 million euros, followed by Rome at 88 million and Turin at 43.7 million. The smallest municipalities (less than 5,000 inhabitants) collected a total of 72.7 million euros through fines during 2024; if municipalities with between 5,000 and 10,000 inhabitants are also considered, the figure rises to 93 million. The administrations of large cities generated over 410 million euros in total revenue.

Analyzing the distribution of fines with respect to the resident population in each region, it emerges that Ligurians are those who pay the most: the average value of fines per capita is 40.1 euros. Tuscany follows with an average of 34.9 euros per resident and Lombardy stands at 32.3 euros per person. The situation is very different in southern Italy: Molise records an average amount of fines equal to only 4.9 euros per citizen; Calabria and Sardinia stand at an average of just 8.9 euros each, while in Sicily it slightly exceeds nine euros.

Codacons President Carlo Rienzi stresses the importance of severity towards traffic violations that endanger public safety; however, he highlights how the increase in revenues from fines is not accompanied by greater transparency on the use of resources by local authorities. He also criticizes the delay in activating the Observatory on traffic fines provided for by the 2023 P.a bis decree law; a body responsible for providing annual reports on data regarding road accidents and the use of revenues from fines.

The President asks Minister Salvini for clarifications regarding the lack of information on the Observatory’s activity and considers this delay as a serious damage to Italian citizens who deserve greater clarity on the funds generated by violations of the Highway Code and their destination.