In 2023, Italian families and private citizens paid traffic fines to Municipalities for a total of 1 billion and 535 million euros, with an increase of 6.4% on the previous year and 23.7% on 2019. And, also at net of inflation, the increase compared to the pre-Covid year is 6.9%.
The data are reported by the Sole 24 Ore which speaks of a "boom in fines" and re-elaborates the data from the telematic system of the Ministry of Economy (Siope) which records all movements of cash registers in public administrations.
A generalized increase that also characterizes Sardinia.
- According to Il Sole, in Cagliari in 2023 the municipality collected 4.5 million euros from fines, with an increase of 3.3% and a total per capita of 30 euros.
- In Nuoro there was a +44.2%, for a total of 0.4 million collected and an average expenditure per head of 11.7 euros.
- In Oristano the Municipality collected 1.2 million euros (per capita expenditure 38.2 euros) for an increase of 39.4%.
- Again: 700 thousand euros was the amount collected from fines by the Municipality of Iglesias , for an average per capita expenditure of 27.8 euros and an increase of 43.2%.
- In Carbonia there was even a +96.3%, for a total of 200 thousand euros collected and an expense of less than 7 euros per citizen.
- In Sassari , however, fines are decreasing: the traffic reports recorded a -27% in 2023, with a total collection of 1.6 million euros and a per capita amount of 12.9 euros.
Il Sole's investigation specifies that the data, which refer to actual collections, is significantly affected by the variable linked to the ability of the entities to collect the fines issued. This is precisely the aspect that most strongly "shapes" the geography of fines, decidedly concentrated in the North where 84.3% of fines are paid; only 15.7% is between the South and the Islands, where however 34.5% of Italians live.
In the South the average fluctuates between 10.3 euros per capita in the Islands and 13 euros in the continental South, i.e. approximately three times below the levels of the Center and North.