Eco Vandalism in Italy: Huge Fines for Damaging Cultural Heritage

Selfie with a car worth its value. Italy will impose hefty fines for damaging cultural heritage.

A new threat looms over museums and monuments worldwide, referred to as eco-vandals. Italy was the first in Europe to sharply increase the fines for such 'performances'. These regulations will come into effect on February 8, and vandals will be required to pay an amount equivalent to the price of a good car.

The new fines range from €20,000 to €60,000, compared to the previous range of €1,500 to €15,000. This does not include the costs of restoration. Furthermore, eco-vandals may face up to five years of imprisonment.

Additionally, those who enjoy taking selfies while sitting on or hugging ancient statues will also be penalized. The new law includes an interesting provision stating that 'the use of cultural values for purposes incompatible with their historical or artistic nature' is also a crime. The penalty for such actions ranges from €10,000 to €40,000, without a provision for imprisonment.