Speed cameras may only be located at specific locations
In future, new stationary and mobile speed cameras may only be installed with the express permission of the relevant prefecture. The authority will check whether the respective location actually serves road safety. Another key change is that every speed camera – whether fixed or mobile – must be announced by a traffic sign at least one kilometer before the measuring point. Their use on sections with sudden and significant speed limit reductions, such as those found at construction sites or danger spots, will also be restricted.
An important point: according to the regulation, Autovelox may only be used in future where the speed limit is a maximum of 20 km/h below the usual maximum speed for the road. On a country road with a speed limit of 90 km/h, a speed camera may therefore continue to be used if the speed limit is reduced to 70 km/h. However, if the limit is reduced to 50 km/h or less, the use of speed cameras is no longer permitted. This regulation is intended to prevent arbitrariness and make traffic controls more transparent.
Minimum distances and ban on hidden measuring devices
One of the most important new features is the introduction of minimum distances: in built-up areas, there must be a minimum distance of 1 kilometer between two permanently installed measuring devices, and outside built-up areas, the minimum distance is 4 kilometers. Mobile devices are subject to the same regulations; they must also be visibly installed and technically approved. The use of hidden or camouflaged speed cameras – for example, behind hedges or garbage cans – is now expressly prohibited.
The ministry emphasizes that these regulations are about road safety and not about generating additional revenue. However, observers assume that the reform is a direct response to numerous complaints from drivers – especially tourists and foreigners – and an increasing number of legal disputes.
Case study and scope of previous practice
The case of a supermarket employee from Nizza Monferrato in Piedmont shows how much the previous practice was criticized by car and motorcycle drivers. Within six months, he collected over €28,000 (approx. $30,240) in fines from a barely visible speed camera located just after a bend. The device was installed behind a hedge and, according to the person concerned, was not used for traffic safety purposes, but solely as a source of revenue. He is fighting the sum in court.
Such cases are not uncommon in Italy. The country has over 11,000 permanently installed speed cameras – more than twice as many as Germany, which has around 4,000 to 5,000 devices. If mobile speed cameras and temporary measuring points are included, the number in Germany rises to around 15,000, but their locations can change at any time and are often camouflaged. In Italy, on the other hand, many systems have been notorious for years for their strict and comprehensive monitoring, resulting in severe penalties and well-organized follow-up, even across national borders.
Record fines – billions in revenue
The importance of speed controls for public coffers is clear from the figures: in 2024 alone, Italy collected over €1.7 billion (approx. US$1.84 billion) in fines – an increase of around 10 percent compared to the previous year. Milan generated the highest revenues with over 204 million euros (approx. 221 million US dollars), followed by Rome with 145.8 million euros (approx. 158 million US dollars) and Florence with 61.6 million euros (approx. 66.8 million US dollars).
It is also striking that even tiny municipalities with only a few hundred inhabitants generate high sums. For example, Carrodano in Liguria, with only 465 inhabitants, generated revenues of more than €807,000 (approx. US$875,000), while Colle Santa Lucia in the Dolomites was able to record €671,000 (approx. US$728,000) from a single speed camera.
Germany in comparison: No stricter rules yet
In Germany, many road users would like to see rules that are as clear and fair as those in Italy. Although there are also numerous fixed and mobile speed cameras in this country, in many places they can still be hidden or camouflaged—for example, behind bushes, in the trunk, or covered with camouflage nets. Critics complain that this serves less to improve road safety than to generate revenue. One example: In Hamburg, revenue from fines for speeding violations recently exceeded 33 million euros (approx. 35.8 million US dollars) per year. For this practice, the city received the satirical “Golden Speed Camera” award in 2024.
Conclusion: Stricter controls, greater transparency
The new rules in Italy set standards across Europe for greater fairness and transparency in the use of speed cameras. The reform aims to end the image of speed cameras as a “rip-off” and focus on genuine road safety. It remains to be seen whether other countries, such as Germany, will introduce similar regulations.
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