Overview

• The regulation, effective Aug 11, stipulates fines as high as €18,000 for large refuse from vehicles or €1,188 for items like bottles or cigarette butts.
• Authorities can use surveillance camera recordings as proof, eliminating the need to catch offenders in the act.
• Penalties apply whether a vehicle is stationary or moving; the rules extend to both Italian residents and foreign tourists.
• Littering within nature reserves or other protected environments carries enhanced sanctions, including possible license suspension, imprisonment.
• The measure responds to widespread roadside dumping across urban streets, rural routes and motorways; it builds on Italy’s broader 2024–2025 push for tougher traffic and environmental enforcement.