Rome tightens disability permit regulations to prevent misuse

Rome authorities have implemented a significant crackdown on the misuse of disability parking permits within the city's Limited Traffic Zones (ZTL). According to Eugenio Patanè, the Rome Mobility Assessor, the administration has canceled nearly 20,000 permits that remained active after the death of the original holders. These cases have been referred to the authorities for legal action.

In addition to addressing deceased permit holders, new regulations have reduced the number of vehicle license plates associated with a single permit from three to two. This change resulted in the removal of approximately 37,700 vehicle-permit pairings from the system. Under the new rules, a permit is only valid if the person with a disability is physically present in the vehicle.

To further prevent irregularities, the city is preparing to deploy new electronic gates at ZTL exits. This system will allow officials to monitor both entry and exit points, enabling them to cross-reference access data and identify anomalous usage patterns.