Left Torino and headed for Genova. About a hour into the drive I get pulled over by the Italian Police. They wanted all the paperwork for me and the RS America. Passport, drivers licience, insurance, California Pink Slip, registration, shipping documents, you name it. Luckily I had it all and it was all valid.

I was going about 10kph under the speed limit following a couple of other cars.

They spent about 45 minutes going through it all, calls on their cell phones, etc. Finally let me go. When they were done, they just gave me all my paperwork, turned around and left. I think they were disappointed.

I don't trust cops. I grew up in a family of cops, I know how crooked they can be. My dad called it the John Wayne Syndrome. Give them a badge and a gun and they think they're John Wayne. Looks like it's the same over here.

Oh yeah, just found this out, before you can use the internet in Italy, you have to register your passport numbers. I'd been wondering why I had to turn in my passport at each hotel. This is the only country that I've had to do that in.

Oh well, I'm having fun in Genova now.

Later, Don

Sounds like they were doing a little profiling to me...

They're probably reading this right now!

Ugly American Syndrome .....

Yeah, Italian cops can be interesting. Luckily in 2 years of living there I never had any issues with them, but know a lot of people who got "randomly" stopped and searched. Were they local cops or Caribinieri? Either way, it's absolutely useless to argue with them. An interesting technique I've heard used with varying degrees of success is just to speak no Italian (if they don't speak any English) and hope they get frustrated and leave.

I loved Italy and would go back there in a heartbeat.

Why you want to go to Genova?? The ugliest city in Italy, it’s like port Elizabeth, NJ

I wonder if they were hoping to find a reason to impound?

I recall in Italy that you must pay your "fine" in cash, on the spot.

Good job giving them no reason to fine you.

Rich

....Pasta with clam sauce, & a little wine..........you'll forget?

(say hi to vinnie)

I had kind of the opposite experience in Italy. I was lucky enough to spend some time in Val Gardena early in my ski industry days ("testing" 215 and 223 downhill boards - ha!). We went "big" one night and literally trashed our rental car, bombing it into snow drifts (even some rail road tracks if I remember correctly). We packed the engine compartment so completely full of snow that it would no longer run. So we left it where it died - all dented up and in a snow drift by the train station, and stumbled about 2 miles back to our hotel. We spent 2 more days on the hill and flew home. No one ever heard a word about it or saw any sort of charge on a credit card or anything.

Yup, ugly Americans for sure . Sorry about that - but it was 20 years ago......

The next tiime that happens. Stand up straight. Look the cop in the eye. Extend you left arm out in front of you slightly bent. With you right hand, reach up and slap the inside of your left elbow. Hey!! It's a sign on respect.

Could have been worse. You could have spent 4 years in jail!!

ROFLMAO, thanks Elliot, I know I can always expect good advice from you. Would you like to come over and show me how it’s done?

As far as the 4 years in jail that was running through my mind.

The plan is to work my way south down the west coast then turn around and head up the east coast and on over to Monaco and Spain.

So far Italy is the only country I’ve been questioned in. When I crossed the border into Italy from Switzerland I was questioned at the border check. It’s the only country that has had an active border check too.

Oh well, it’s all part of the adventure.

Later, Don

My experience is that in half the Hotels you have to turn in your passport. In Suriname if I am driving and get pulled over by the Police I speak English and say "Mi no sabi" to their replies. I always get off as I am a white guy and no one Dutch....yes, the Police are looking for a little "Sweet" as they call a bride here. The Police are looking for drivers without a license or no insurance. So they have checkpoints all over the city.

My 2012 Registration and Tags from California arrived at the hotel today. That means the tour can continue. If they hadn't arrived or got lost in the mail, I would be heading back to England.

I'm a happy guy with all valid paperwork for the next stop, yes.

Later, Don

I never knew how to bribe a cop until I lived in Brazil, where my wife taught me. There you say 'tut, tut, tut, how stupid I was" and offer the cop something to get himself a "cafezinho" or "cervezinha" to make up for the trouble you've caused him, and all's well. Sounds wrong, but their courts and jails are not clogged.

Funny story, instead of flying straight back a Brazilian friend decided to drive a rental car from New York to Miami and fly back from there. So he could see a little of the U.S. Of course he got caught in a speed trap in the Carolinas somewhere, gave the cop a $50 bill along with his driver's licence, so the cop could "buy himself a beer". My friend spent the night in jail, which he found to be hugely impressive. He told that story to everyone back home, to explain why the U.S. was a First World country while Brasil was destined to remain Third World. His story impressed and amazed everyone, proof of what I've always said, that what you see depends mostly on your point of view.

Don,

Take a guess how many Porsches with CA plates are in Italy and how many cars with Italien plates are driving around in the US? Maybe 5? That's why you got the royal service.

In addtion, I would have also stopped you in a Porsche driving 10km/h under the speed limit.

About 10 years ago, I had a 944 with CA plates in Munich. Drove around for about 6 months and got the same service by the Krauts, but never had to pay for a parking ticker :-).

Ciao,
Dragan

PS: I think they punked you about the internet and passport. I just spend a week in Milan and did not have to show my passport....

I've had to show my passport at every hotel in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and France. It's normally a requirement for the stay and has nothing to do with the internet.

I was stopped coming through the Mont Blanc tunnel returning to France. My father inlaw told the police we were Canadiens (in French) and we were allowed to continue with no furhter checks.

Had a ticket mailed to me from Stuttgart. And paid lots of money to Italien toll booths. Arrivederci!!