More than one in five cameras were deactivated
Italy has temporarily deactivated 712 fixed and automated speed cameras because the devices do not meet new national rules governing their approval, calibration and operational verification.
Italian authorities recorded a total of 3,305 speed-control devices across the country. Of these, 2,593 have completed the required procedures and remain officially authorised for use.
The remaining cameras have been taken offline. They may resume operating only after their owners complete the necessary technical and administrative procedures.
The decision does not mean that Italy is abandoning automated speed enforcement. The authorities are seeking to establish a uniform and legally transparent system in which penalties are based only on data collected by approved and properly functioning equipment.
Lombardy recorded the largest number of shutdowns
The highest number of deactivated cameras was recorded in Italy’s northern regions, which contain major cities, industrial centres and some of the country’s busiest motorways.
Lombardy had 144 speed cameras taken out of service. Piedmont followed with 131 devices, while Emilia-Romagna recorded 94.
A further 84 cameras were deactivated in Veneto, 69 in Tuscany and 47 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Lazio, which includes Rome, had 33 non-compliant devices.
Liguria recorded 16 shutdowns, Marche 15 and Abruzzo 12. Nine cameras were deactivated in the autonomous province of Trento and eight in Bolzano.
Sicily also had eight devices taken offline. Campania and Apulia each recorded seven, Sardinia six, and Calabria and Valle d’Aosta four each.
Three cameras were deactivated in Umbria and one in Basilicata. Molise was the only region where no devices were taken out of service.
The distribution reflects not only differences in equipment condition but also the number of cameras installed. Northern Italy has a denser road network, higher traffic volumes and more extensive use of automated enforcement.
The new rules introduce uniform standards
Before the new requirements were introduced, procedures governing the installation and operation of speed cameras could differ depending on the municipality, road operator or type of equipment.
This created legal uncertainty. Drivers challenged penalties by arguing that a particular model had not received the necessary approval, that its calibration had expired or that the accuracy of its measurements had not been adequately demonstrated.
The new provisions are intended to establish uniform criteria throughout Italy. A camera may be used to issue penalties only when it has the required authorisation and documented proof of technical reliability.
Authorities must maintain accurate information about the location, model, owner, installation date, calibration history and latest inspection of each device.
This should create a centralised picture of which cameras are legally operating and reduce disputes over the validity of automated penalties.
Approval and calibration serve different purposes
Equipment approval confirms that a particular camera model meets the established technical standards and can legally be used for traffic enforcement.
Calibration checks whether the device continues to measure speed accurately. Even an officially approved camera cannot be expected to operate indefinitely without inspection.
Its performance may be affected by wear, weather conditions, physical damage or software changes. Periodic verification must confirm that it measures speed correctly and identifies the vehicle responsible for the recorded violation.
Accuracy is required throughout the entire automated process, from the measuring sensor and camera to number-plate recognition, image storage and the transfer of information into administrative systems.
An error at any stage may result in an unjustified penalty and the subsequent cancellation of the fine.
Deactivated cameras may return to service
The shutdown of 712 devices is not necessarily permanent. Municipalities and road operators may reactivate them after completing the required procedures.
Depending on the condition of the equipment, this may involve recalibration, technical maintenance, software updates or formal confirmation that the model complies with current requirements.
In some cases, upgrading an older camera may not be economically viable. Local authorities may then need to replace it with newer equipment.
Until the necessary checks are completed, deactivated cameras should not be used to issue automated penalties. Police speed checks using approved mobile equipment and compliant fixed systems remain in force.
Speed enforcement remains active
The temporary removal of some devices does not cancel Italy’s speed limits or give drivers an exemption from enforcement.
Checks may continue to be carried out by traffic police, municipal authorities and other authorised bodies using equipment that meets the new requirements.
A total of 2,593 approved cameras remain operational. Mobile radar equipment and average-speed monitoring systems may also be used on designated road sections.
For drivers, including international hauliers, this means that the shutdown should not be interpreted as the disappearance of enforcement. It applies only to specific devices, not to the national road-control system.
The changes matter for freight operators
Automated speed enforcement is particularly important for commercial vehicles. Trucks have a greater mass, require longer braking distances and can cause more serious consequences in a collision.
Specific speed limits may apply to heavy vehicles on certain Italian roads. These limits can be lower than those established for passenger cars.
International carriers must consider the vehicle category, gross weight, trailer configuration and type of road in addition to the posted signs.
Reports that hundreds of cameras have been switched off should not influence operating speeds. Devices may be reactivated after verification, while mobile checks can be conducted without drivers receiving advance notice.
Fines should not become a hidden revenue tool
Italian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has reiterated that road safety must be protected through clear and understandable rules.
His position is that cameras should be installed where enforcement is genuinely necessary to reduce accidents, rather than being used as an opaque instrument for increasing municipal revenue.
The issue has generated debate in Italy for years. Critics of automated enforcement argue that some municipalities place cameras mainly on roads where they can generate large numbers of fines.
Supporters say the devices encourage drivers to respect speed limits and allow dangerous locations to be monitored without requiring a permanent police presence.
The new rules are intended to balance these positions. Automated control remains in place, but authorities must demonstrate that the device was installed lawfully, functions correctly and produces reliable evidence.
What changes for drivers
The reform should increase the legal reliability of speed penalties. When a violation is recorded by an officially registered and verified device, challenging the penalty solely on the basis of the camera’s status should become more difficult.
At the same time, drivers will have stronger grounds for appeal if the camera did not complete a mandatory approval procedure or was used after its technical verification had expired.
Municipalities will need to pay greater attention to documentation, timely calibration and public information about enforcement equipment.
This may temporarily reduce the number of operational cameras. In the longer term, however, Italy expects to create a clearer and more consistent automated road-enforcement system.
Italy is changing its approach to automated enforcement
The deactivation of 712 cameras demonstrates that the presence of equipment alone is no longer considered sufficient grounds for issuing penalties.
Every device must meet national standards, undergo technical checks and operate according to transparent rules.
For road authorities, this means additional expenditure on maintenance, certification and replacement. For drivers, it should provide greater clarity about which cameras are authorised to record violations.
For transport companies, the reform reinforces the need to control vehicle speed regardless of how enforcement is conducted. Italy is not weakening its road rules but restructuring the system so that its decisions are technically justified and legally enforceable.
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