This fine surprises motorists: 42 euros for forgetting to leave the car

A motorist was recently fined for a minor oversight that can happen to anyone.

Imagine parking your car in a quiet corner, without any no-parking signs, and returning a few minutes later discovering a ticket slapped on the windshield. The amount to pay: 42 euros! The reason for this fine? Leaving your car window open a few centimeters while parked on the street. No, this is not a joke. It happened to a driver in Vicenza, in northern Italy, at the foot of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monte Berico.

The driver probably thought he was doing the right thing by airing out the cabin a little before getting out, or perhaps he simply forgot to roll up his window completely. But for the authorities, he had simply committed a traffic violation.

Because in Italy, there is a section of the Highway Code, Article 158, which stipulates that motorists must do everything possible to secure their vehicles, even when stationary. This includes closing the doors, any sunroof, and also the front and rear windows. Leaving anything ajar when leaving your car is seen as negligence that can facilitate theft. This is what happened to the Italian driver, who was fined for having, in a way, "incited theft" by leaving his window down.

It's not just in Italy that you need to be particularly vigilant before leaving your car. The rule is just as strict in Germany. The Highway Code requires drivers to lock their vehicles and close all openings, even during a brief stop. Again, this is a preventative measure against theft and vandalism. The fine is less steep than in Italy, but still 15 euros, and law enforcement doesn't hesitate to ticket distracted drivers. Do you risk the same fate in France? No, no law explicitly prohibits leaving your car windows ajar.

But be careful: Article R417-1 of the Highway Code still specifies that the driver must "take the necessary precautions to avoid any risk of accident or theft." This means that if a theft or incident occurs while the windows are open or the doors are unlocked, the driver may be held partially responsible. There's no fine involved, but your insurance company could drag its feet when it comes to compensating for any damage to the vehicle.

Even a seemingly insignificant gesture, such as leaving a window ajar to cool your car, can have consequences for your wallet.