Security Tips - Archive

Security Notice on Italian Highways, May 3, 2006

On 21 April, 2006, an Embassy Rome officer who was driving to Naples on the A1 Autostrada reported that a car with two males pulled alongside his car. The Embassy officer reported that the other car had no markings, sirens, or other indication that it might be an official car of the Italian security forces. The passenger in the other car showed him an obviously-fake police-type badge and motioned for the Embassy officer to pull over and stop. The Embassy officer refused, and continued driving to Naples, where he reported the incident to the military authorities at the US Naval Base.

This is the second reported incident of this type within a four-month period. It is not an uncommon occurrence along Italian highways, particularly those near Naples. Italian media recently highlighted this type of scenario in a public service television presentation, pointing out that the intention behind most such incidents is to stop the car and commit either robbery or possibly carjacking.

Americans are cautioned that while this event occurred near Naples, such a scenario is possible anywhere in Italy. While all citizens must comply with the directives of members of uniformed, identifiable Italian security forces, when a question exists about whether someone is a legitimate security authority or not, such as in this event, the Embassy recommends you not comply with their directives, and continue to drive to a place of more safety than the open highway, such as a manned tollbooth or a highway service area where there are people. Ideally, try to get the license number and description of the vehicle to report to Italian authorities.