Florence Cracks Down on Tourist Bus Violations

The City of Florence has approved new regulations for tourist buses, introducing tougher penalties against illegal stops and parking. The new measures also eliminate the bus stop in Viale Ariosto.

Starting November 15, companies whose vehicles are caught stopping or parking outside designated areas will face immediate restrictions: for seven days, they will not be allowed to purchase new access tickets or activate passes already bought. A second violation within a year will result in a 30-day suspension.

Additional sanctions will apply to open-top buses found operating with their OBU — the mandatory geolocation device used to track vehicles in Florence — turned off. In such cases, the company will face legal fines, the withdrawal of its permit, and a 30-day suspension of passes and access rights. If two prior suspensions have been issued within two years, the ban will double.

According to Florence mobility councillor Andrea Giorgio, the new disciplinary plan is part of a broader effort to curb traffic violations by tour operators and improve city life for residents. Recent steps include moving the bus hub to Piazza Vittorio Veneto and activating the “Green Shield” (Scudo Verde) monitoring system, which has already uncovered an average of 12 unpaid access violations per day.

The city says the goal is to restore a fair balance between the rights of residents and visitors, while protecting Florence’s streets from uncontrolled tourist bus traffic.

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