Italian finance police seize rental boats with illegal engines

The Guardia di Finanza carried out inspections of motorboats used for tourist rentals on Italy’s lakes, including Garda, Iseo and Maggiore. Technicians examined 21 to 6 outboard engines rated at 40 hp or less and found that a significant share – about one‑third on Garda and Iseo and more than half on Maggiore – had been illegally altered to increase power, creating a safety hazard for inexperienced users.

As a result, authorities seized five boats (four on Lake Garda and one on Lake Iseo) and four boats on Lake Maggiore, together with the modified engines. Administrative fines exceeding €22,000 were imposed in the Garda/Iseo case and over €13,000 in the Maggiore case for violations of the Navigation Code, the Nautical Leisure Code and insurance regulations. The actions aim to remove unsafe vessels from the rental market and protect tourists during the busy summer season.