Venice Police Punish Tourists for Disrespectful Behavior

Police in Venice, Italy, punished two German tourists for making coffee at the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge in the city. A passerby tipped the police about the two unnamed tourists. According to the report, the tourists, a man and a woman, made themselves at home at the foot of the bridge and used a small gas stove to brew their coffee. The police then issued them a fine of over $1,000 and ordered them to leave the city. The fine was part of a new law that aims to maintain peace and order in Venice. The law was introduced in May following complaints that tourists are degrading the city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since the law’s implementation, 39 previous tourists have also been asked to leave the city. Under the law, tourists are prohibited from engaging in any disrespectful behavior, such as picnicking at some spots, diving into the canals, washing in fountains, littering, and vandalizing property. Any tourist found violating the law will be required to pay fines that will depend on the gravity of the offense. Aside from paying fines, violators will be kicked out of the city and reported to the embassy of their home countries. In a statement, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said that the law is meant to ensure respect for the city by discouraging tourists from displaying bad behavior. However, he clarified that Venice, which is visited by 30 million people a year, will continue to welcome tourists as long as they observe proper decorum.