A furious driver in Rome has been left stunned after city council workers painted over white parking lines with blue ones around his legally parked car, resulting in a fine. Stefano Angeloni, an Italian motorist, posted a video on Instagram showing his vehicle parked in what was a white-lined space, indicating free parking. However, upon returning, he found fresh blue lines around his tyres and a €29.40 (£24.91) fine on his windscreen.
How the Parking Scam Unfolded
In Rome, white lines denote free parking, while blue lines require payment. Angeloni had parked legally in a white-lined area. But during the night, City Council of Rome workers repainted the lines on the street from white to blue, unable to paint under his car or others. The result was that his car appeared to be in a blue-lined zone, leading to the fine.
In the viral clip, Angeloni says: “Look at this fantastic parking spot I found. I leave my car in a white-lined space; then, one night, they come by and paint over the white lines with blue ones. Obviously, they couldn’t paint underneath my car – or anyone else’s – so the white lines I parked in are now blue. The result? A nice fat fine. Fantastic, right? We’re in a fantastic city.”
Viral Reaction and Public Outcry
The video has amassed over a million views, with commenters expressing outrage and sarcasm. One user joked: “You gave me a great idea. Thank you so much. I will never pay for parking again, but rather buy a can of white paint and a brush, so I can sign up for my lifetime free parking membership.” Another noted: “The wheel is on the white one, you don’t have to pay.” Angeloni’s daughter later clarified on Instagram that her father posted the video by mistake and was unaware of its viral spread.
The incident highlights questionable enforcement practices by the city council, leaving drivers vulnerable to fines through no fault of their own.
