In Italy, a 2007 law under which motorists who run the air conditioning in their cars while stationary can be fined several hundred euros is back in the news. Faced with what they consider to be an unfair system, taxpayers who have been penalised have appealed to the transport minister, Matteo Salvini, who advocates a policy of “common sense.”
Who hasn’t enjoyed a bit of fresh air in their car by turning on the air conditioning while stationary? The practice is commonplace, and particularly welcome at a time when an intense heatwave is hitting southern Europe and Italy in particular, with temperatures frequently hovering around 40°C. Unfortunately, the practice has been banned by Italian law since 2007 as part of the fight against pollution, and offenders face heavy fines ranging from a minimum of €223 to a maximum of €444.
Many motorists have been exposed to such penalties, which they consider completely disproportionate. Indeed, in very hot weather, it is not uncommon to have to turn on the air conditioning, even when stationary or waiting inside the car, even if only for a few minutes.
In protest, some motorists have approached the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, none other than the former Interior Minister and President of Lega, Matteo Salvini, to ask him to arbitrate.
The minister’s response was swift: sensitive to the complaints of users, he pleaded for moderation in the application of this law, which was recently updated and reinforced under his ministry. The fight against pollution is a laudable objective, but it must not be achieved at the expense of other equally important realities. Can we reasonably ask a motorist stopped in a car with young children or elderly people, for example, to turn off the air conditioning? Matteo Salvini appealed to police officers’ “common sense” and “discernment”—virtues that unfortunately seem to be disappearing when it comes to environmental considerations.
The controversy, which has gripped Italians at the height of summer, is symptomatic of the exasperation shared by many citizens, who feel that more and more laws are being passed based on ideological considerations that have nothing to do with the simple reality and daily lives of citizens. In situations like these, a political figure like Matteo Salvini seems to be an accessible way of restoring reason and common sense.
