I recently got myself a fine on a train in Italy.
Now, while I’ve been living here a while and should be used to the eccentricities of public transport in Italy, I was lax about my interpretation of train tickets.
Italy would have to be one of the few countries in the world where the day on which you buy your ticket is not the day when you have to use it.
You can buy a ticket and use it 60 days after the date of purchase if you wish.
But the thing of utmost importance is that whatever day you use your ticket you must stamp it in one of many inconspicuous yellow machines that you can find lurking around train stations.
If you don’t stamp your ticket, you could be up for a fine of 50 euros.
And while most Italian train conductors do not speak English, the protective ignorance of “I’m just a tourist” doesn’t wash with them and they’re likely to give you one anyway (though I have yet to figure out whether on finishing your holiday and choofing off to America if the fine will find you there or if you must pay it on the spot).
