The Italian government seem to have moved their focus from the four wheeled to the more easily apprehended two wheeled offender a.k.a the common or garden ciclista (cyclist). In fact they are so serious about the terrible two wheeled menace that law breaking cyclists who are in possession of a patente (driving license) risk loosing points or even having their license suspended.
A few exemplary cases recently reported by the media.
Guida la bici ubriaco, patente sospesa (Riding a bike whilst drunk, license suspended): In Migliarino, near Pisa a 24 year old was stopped by the police after they observed him riding his bicycle in an erratic fashion. The young man, a resident of Lucca, had his license suspended and lost 10 points for driving a bicycle whilst drunk.
Multato ciclista a Bolzano (Cyclist fined in Bolzano): A 40 year old man received a hefty fine and had 5 points taken off his driving license after having been caught by the police in the act of using his telefonino whilst in the saddle.
Ciclista passa col rosso, via 6 punti dalla patente (Cyclist passes through a red light, 6 points taken away): In Bergamo a 43 year old ‘entrepreneur’ had the misfortune of running into a police patrol immediately after having jumped a red light on his bicycle. For this infraction, the cyclist lost 6 points on his driving license and had to pay a 150 euro fine.
A few exemplary cases recently reported by the media.
Guida la bici ubriaco, patente sospesa (Riding a bike whilst drunk, license suspended): In Migliarino, near Pisa a 24 year old was stopped by the police after they observed him riding his bicycle in an erratic fashion. The young man, a resident of Lucca, had his license suspended and lost 10 points for driving a bicycle whilst drunk.
Multato ciclista a Bolzano (Cyclist fined in Bolzano): A 40 year old man received a hefty fine and had 5 points taken off his driving license after having been caught by the police in the act of using his telefonino whilst in the saddle.
Ciclista passa col rosso, via 6 punti dalla patente (Cyclist passes through a red light, 6 points taken away): In Bergamo a 43 year old ‘entrepreneur’ had the misfortune of running into a police patrol immediately after having jumped a red light on his bicycle. For this infraction, the cyclist lost 6 points on his driving license and had to pay a 150 euro fine.
