Vigile urbano Info
- This policeman is a typically Italian figure. Among his duties is controlling the traffic, and therefore also levying fines, for example for parking in a no parking zone or riding a motorcycle without a helmet. He is also responsible for environmental protection and for ensuring that municipal regulations (such as correct opening hours and the prices charged in public businesses) are observed, and town laws respected. Finally, he also deals with social problems, such as abandoned children and the monitoring of refugees' and travellers' camps. The body of vigili urbani has no link with the police: it is organized and run directly by each local authority and comes under the control of the mayor. In some places it is called polizia municipale (municipal police) or polizia locale (local police).