Man has to pay 42 euros fine for leaving his car window open
A driver in Italy left his parked car with a slightly open window, resulting in a €42 fine.
Anyone traveling by car in Italy should close the windows when parking, even in high temperatures. In the northern Italian city of Vicenza, a driver parked his car, locked the doors, but left one window open a few centimeters. This was noticed during a police check. The driver was fined €42 for this oversight. The accusation was that he had failed to adequately protect his car from unauthorized access, even though no break-in had occurred. "Südtirolnews" reported on the incident.
According to Article 158, paragraph 4 of the Italian Highway Code, this is an invitation for thieves, and fines of between €42 and €173 are imposed. This rule applies to windows, sunroofs, and convertible tops.
"You left your vehicle without securing it against unauthorized use," the warning note read. The inspectors pointed to several violations. First, the driver "violated the duty of care when entering or exiting the vehicle according to Section 14 Paragraph 2" (Section 49, StVo). Second, the following always applies: "Anyone driving a vehicle must take the necessary precautions when leaving the vehicle to prevent accidents or traffic disruptions." And: "Motor vehicles must also be secured against unauthorized use."
Many months later, another bill arrived. A company demanded another 156 euros for "monitoring costs."
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