Italy deactivates 850 older speed cameras – new regulations for speed measurement devices come into force

The new regulation is intended to end this situation. "The regulation is intended to end a legal dispute that has lasted for decades. The aim is to uniformly regulate the approval of speed cameras," the ministry said. For the first time, a uniform procedure for the type approval of speed measurement devices is being established.

What the new regulation provides

When the Italian Highway Code was introduced 34 years ago, it was already stipulated that radar and other speed measurement devices had to receive formal type approval before being put into use. In practice, however, this requirement was not consistently implemented for a long time.

The legal gap had noticeable consequences: Anyone penalized for a speeding offense could often successfully appeal in court because the measurement had been carried out with a device that had not been properly approved. "fines may no longer be imposed with speed measurement devices without the prescribed type approval," the new decree clarifies.

In future, all devices must be calibrated before being put into operation and must meet significantly stricter technical requirements. "In addition, technical inspections are required every twelve months," the regulation states. "If the inspection certificate expires, the device may not be used until a renewed successful inspection has been carried out, and no fines may be imposed."

Impact on municipalities and drivers

According to the Ministry of Transport, the deactivation affects around one-fifth of the approximately 4,000 speed cameras installed nationwide. Transitional provisions apply to the remaining 3,150 devices, so that operations can continue for the time being. This is intended to prevent traffic monitoring in the municipalities from coming to a complete standstill.

The measure comes at a time when speed controls in Italy are already highly controversial. "Speed cameras have been extremely controversial in Italy for years," the news agency APA writes. For Italian municipalities, revenue from fines after speed checks is an important item in the municipal budget.

At the same time, experts point to road safety. "Still, too many people lose their lives on Italian roads every year," the report states. Against this backdrop, experts warn that the temporary deactivation of the 850 devices could be misunderstood by some drivers as a free pass. "Experts warn of speeders who could interpret the deactivation as a free pass – especially with a view to holiday travel traffic."

Checks and fines

The decree obliges the responsible authorities to immediately review the operation of the affected systems and, if necessary, initiate retrofitting or new purchases. Municipalities that depend on revenue from fines must prepare for longer outages until the devices meet the new requirements.

With the new regulation, the Ministry of Transport primarily wants to create legal certainty. In future, it should no longer be necessary to distinguish between a simple approval and a full type approval. The uniform procedure sets out which technical tests a device must pass before it may be used on the road.

The regular technical inspections every twelve months are also intended to ensure that measured values remain reliable in the long term. Violations of the new requirements can result in a device being taken out of service and fines already issued being challenged.

Outlook on implementation

Overall, it is clear that the reform has not only technical, but also legal and financial implications. While drivers must prepare for fewer checks, municipalities and authorities must bring their systems up to the new standard. Observers expect the transition to take several months.

The Italian government had adopted the decree in June and published it in the Official Gazette. With its entry into force on Sunday, the implementation phase now begins. The Ministry of Transport announced that it would closely monitor the process and, if necessary, examine further transitional provisions if individual municipalities are unable to meet the deadlines.

In the long term, the reform is intended to help reduce the number of successful appeals against fines and increase road safety. Whether this goal is achieved depends, according to experts, essentially on how quickly the affected municipalities retrofit or replace their systems.