Capture audio or video files. - Italian village enchants visitors, earning millions in revenue
Taking a vacation in Italy without snapping a selfie could be rewarding in the past - the country was crowned the European king of speed camera installation. The winding roads in the south are decorated with more speed camera boxes than any other region.
Income from a Lone Speed Camera in a Small Village
This odd scenario produces fascinating facts in remote areas: As per the Italian newspaper "La Repubblica", the little village of Colle Santa Lucia in the Dolomites netted a whopping 1.2 million euros in only three years, all thanks to a solitary speed camera. With a mere 353 occupants, that's a staggering 3,000 euros per person. While no one receives this cash directly, the village's coffers are now overflowing. Italian citizens are mostly the ones being trapped by these speed cameras.
Other communities, like Cittadella in the province of Padua, Melpignano in the province of Lecce, or Giacciano Con Baruchella in the province of Rovigo, also rake in millions. Sometimes these revenues come from multiple speed cameras, and other times, only one is responsible. Italy's top two cities in terms of speeding fines, as expected, are Rome and Milan.
Not every person is ecstatic about the financial blessings from these cameras. Gabriele Melluso, the head of the consumer protection organization Assoutenti, told "La Stampa": "Local authorities should not view speed cameras as personal money machines. Speed cameras must strictly adhere to ensuring traffic safety."
Fewer Speed Cameras Ahead in Italy
It seems Mr. Melluso's request will be granted. The "Speed Camera Decree," a recent Italian reform, aims to "strictly regulate the use of measuring devices to prevent misuse." This translates to the following: The distances between speed cameras must increase, each speed camera box must be announced ahead with a sign, and devices can only be placed at locations where there's an elevated risk of accidents. Furthermore, speed cameras are only permitted in urban areas where a speed limit of 50 km/h is enforced.
This move causes unexpected consequences: As per "South Tyrol News", 14 of the 16 radar traps in the Italian city of Bolzano have been deactivated. The change in accepted speed limits for the placement of these boxes is the primary culprit: In places where less than 50 km/h is permitted, the speed cameras must be eliminated. As a result, the city is now left with only two.
Politicians and residents in the area are worried about traffic safety, as those who oppose the reform believe that safety is at stake, particularly on roads with low speed limits.
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Despite the concerns raised by Gabriele Melluso about the misuse of speed cameras for fiscal gains, many Italian villages continue to generate significant revenue from these devices. For instance, the small village of Colle Santa Lucia in the Dolomites has made over 1.2 million euros in three years from a single speed camera, equating to around 3,000 euros per resident. However, the recently passed "Speed Camera Decree" aims to regulate the use of these devices, requiring increased distances between them, advance warnings, and limiting their placement to urban areas with a 50 km/h speed limit. Unfortunately, this decree has led to the removal of several speed cameras in some cities, such as Bolzano, which now has only two remaining, potentially impacting traffic safety.
After learning about the revenue generated from these speed traps, some Italian communities have begun to question whether these devices are solely meant to ensure traffic safety or serve as a financial incentive. As speed cameras become subject to stricter regulations, the future impact on Italy's roads, particularly in villages and smaller cities, remains uncertain.
