Residents of polluted cities in Northern Italy are the target of discounts aimed at bringing their overworked lungs to cleaner Liguria.

"We’ve got plenty of fresh air here on the coast," said Sandro Biasotti, president of the region of Liguria. "It’s our duty to encourage people from nearby areas a way out of polluted cities."

Lack of rain has sent pollution levels soaring throughout Italy over the last two weeks. Milan, Turin and Gorizia topped the list of the most polluted Italian cities–medical experts likened a day in Milan’s haze to smoking 15 cigarettes.
Measures to reduce smog from traffic include no-car Sundays and access to cities through an alternating license plate scheme.

www.inliguria.liguriainrete.it
details and free phone….

Residents in Northern Italy can now pick up pepper spray for personal defense, next to the toothpaste and bandages, from a national supermarket chain.
In recent years, crime has become the main worry for 37% of Italians, taking priority over unemployment, drug abuse and immigration. That figure, however, jumps to 48% in the North-East of Italy–hence the marketing ploy.The product, called “Fermo!” (Stop!), debuted in the Como area for a trial two-week run.
“The decision to carry the product in supermarkets is based on consumer demand,” said a press release from marketing company Di.tex.al. “There are no legal barriers to selling it in chain stores and the instructions underline the importance of using it only for personal defense.” A squirt of Fermo, which retails for e.13, 99 (around $15), can render an adult “out of order” for several minutes. There is no age limit for sales of the product, made from hot cayenne peppers. Pepper spray, legal in Italy since 1998, was previously only sold in specialty stores.

Beware anti-smoking patrols: the Italian government unleashed inspectors in Milan, Turin, Rome, Naples and Palermo found them infested with smokers flouting regulations.*
While inspections of hospitals in Rome turned up few in flagrante smokers (16 out 159 checks), Naples is a smokers free-for-all: in addition to dismal hospital statistics, some 47 movie goers were fined for smoking inside cinemas.

Smoking was banned in public places (hospitals, theaters, schools, nightclubs and on public transportation) in 1975, but public authorities have rarely enforced regulations. The measly fine was not exactly a deterrent–but recently fines were hiked (euro 25 to 250 about $22-222) and so have inspections.
In an effort encourage an unheard of snitching on smokers, the government has set up a toll-free number to report smoking violations: 800.998877

http://localisenzafumo.monrif.net
Small but useful database of Italy’s non-smoking restaurants….

*The stats:

701 checks for smokers, Italy wide
372 smoking fines, Italy wide
143 checks for smokers, hospitals (Naples)
198 smoking fines, hospitals (Naples)

Italians will soon be able to unleash their legendary creativity on license plates. Billed by local media as “American-style plates,” the Bel Paese version is, of course, a bit more complicated –plates must keep the combination of two letters, three numbers, two letters. The example held out for the TV cameras was practically incomprehensible- LU 267 CA- or rather “Luca,” born in February, 1967.
The change was announced as part of the new driving regulations, which also raises autostrada speed limits in good driving conditions to 150 kph (93 mph), requires driving school for scooterists under 18 and initiates a point system for driving infractions.
The package of new road rules go into effect January 2003.