Italy enforces tougher penalties for DUI and phone use while driving

The regulations also introduce stricter penalties for using a mobile phone while driving. The new measure is the requirement to install an alcohol interlock device for drivers previously penalized for driving while intoxicated.

Holding a phone in one’s hand while driving can result in a fine ranging from $260 to $1,050, a one-week driver's license suspension, and up to 10 penalty points. In case of repeat offenses, the fine increases to $1,470, and the driver's license may be suspended for three months.

Additionally, the ban on driving high-power vehicles, previously affecting new drivers, has been extended from one to three years.

Penalties for driving under the influence are now more severe. With a blood alcohol concentration from 0.05 to 0.08 percent, the fine can be up to $2,300, and the driver's license may be revoked for a period of three to six months. For a concentration from 0.08 to 0.15 percent, the fine doubles, and the driver may be detained for six months.

Above 0.15 percent, the penalty reaches $6,300, along with six months of detention and the revocation of the driver's license for one to two years. Drivers with an alcohol level above 0.08 percent must install an alcohol interlock device in their vehicles.

In response to the increasing popularity of scooters and accidents involving them, a requirement for registration plates and wearing helmets has been introduced.

The fine for parking in spaces reserved for people with disabilities is up to $1,040, and the fine for parking on bus routes and stops is up to $690.

The new regulations aim to increase road safety and promote responsible behavior among drivers. The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, emphasized that the modified rules aim for "more safety and prevention, combating abuses and improper behavior, and true road education."