by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Caterina de Gavardo, Trieste City Councilor for Public Safety
Trieste’s local police carried out an extensive campaign of road safety and commercial transport inspections during the first six months of 2026, city officials said Friday, citing increased traffic volumes and a growing need to monitor both private vehicles and freight operators.
At a news conference, City Councilor for Public Safety Caterina de Gavardo, Local Police Commander Walter Milocchi and senior officers outlined enforcement efforts that target dangerous driving behavior, vehicle safety standards and compliance with regulations governing commercial transport.
Under Italy’s Highway Code, local police are responsible for traffic enforcement within their jurisdictions. In Trieste, officers conduct roadside patrols aimed at reducing the violations most commonly linked to road accidents, while also inspecting drivers’ licenses, vehicle registration documents and the mechanical condition of vehicles.
Officials said the work is carried out by three specialized units: the Motorized Division, which oversees traffic patrols and accident response; the Road Technology Unit, which uses tools such as automatic license plate recognition systems and breath analyzers; and the False Documents and Freight Transport Unit, which investigates fraudulent documentation and monitors commercial transport, including heavy trucks, tourist coaches and school buses.
According to the city, document inspections exceeded 100 during the first half of the year, leading to the identification of numerous forged or altered documents. Authorities also reported an increase in preventive inspections of school buses, reflecting growing demand from schools seeking additional safety checks before educational trips.
Commander Milocchi said particular attention has been given to international freight transport, especially carriers arriving from countries outside the European Union. Those operators are subject to permit requirements, and police have reported a rise in the use of counterfeit or altered transport authorizations.
Authorities are also enforcing European rules governing drivers’ working hours and mandatory rest periods, regulations designed to reduce fatigue-related crashes. Milocchi said that during the first six months of the year, police temporarily suspended 46 driver’s licenses under Italy’s points-based licensing system after motorists with fewer than 20 remaining points committed violations triggering automatic suspensions.
The commander also highlighted Trieste’s Document Fraud Laboratory, the only facility of its kind in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. In addition to supporting local investigations, the laboratory assists prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies by examining suspected forged documents.
Summer patrols have been intensified along the Barcola waterfront, where seasonal traffic and large numbers of beachgoers create additional safety concerns, officials said. Police said roadside inspections are routinely conducted following traffic accidents, with officers verifying drivers, vehicle documentation and compliance with traffic regulations.
Moreno Belic, deputy inspector of the False Documents and Freight Transport Unit, said inspections of heavy vehicles are concentrated along the city’s main access routes. Officers examine drivers’ qualifications, tachograph records, vehicle condition, cargo security and transport documentation, a process that typically requires significantly more time than inspections of private cars.
Officials said recent inspections have also uncovered cases involving drivers from outside the European Union lacking the professional qualifications or documentation required to carry out commercial transport. Italian law provides for substantial fines and, in some cases, the impoundment of vehicles for such violations.
City officials said the enforcement campaign is intended to improve road safety as Trieste continues to experience growing traffic generated by residents, commuters, tourists and commercial transport.
