LEYES Y NORMAS VENECIANAS

Laws and rules in Venice

Venice has its rules, some are written, others are simple rules to be followed if one wants to respect both the city and its inhabitants.

Now following is a list of the most important things one should know, if you don't want to infringe the rules and regulations:

1) Through out the city (with the exception of the area around Saint Mark's Square, ) it is forbidden to feed the pigeons - be careful! the fine is very expensive;
2) Picnics are not allowed;
3) You can be fined for walking around streets and squares without a shirt;
4) Dog owners are only allowed to take their dogs out if they are on a lead. Dogs that are aggressive or bigger than average must always have a muzzle and be kept on a leash by an adult who is able to control them. By "bigger than average", dogs are meant that are over 60cm. tall, measured from the point of the withers.
5) A dog who dirties the street must have an owner who cleans it.
6) The use of bicycles, skate-boards, roller-skates and similar items is forbidden. It is not allowed to play football, basketball or any other sport with a big or small ball.

Those who use the public transport of the actv also have to follow certain rules:

1) Smoking is forbidden on all means of public transport including the landing stage.
2) At the landing stages you have to wait in the designated space and not in the black and yellow painted area so you don't get in the way of the boats mooring and the passengers getting off.
3) If you are transporting large objects you must ask the captain's permission.
4) Luggage should be placed in the spaces provided near the pilotage cabin or away from the exits and the cabin doors;
5) Backpacks should be carried by hand so they do not disturb the other passengers, also considerably reducing the risk of pickpockets..

A little more useful advice for those walking around the city.
Keeping in mind that walking along the streets, squares and bridges there are also many inhabitants and people who are on their way to work and in much more of a hurry than the normal tourist, here are a few simple rules to avoid the classic "va a remengo" (or rather "get lost!"):

1) On the more crowded streets you should keep to the right so there is enough room for those coming from the opposite direction and those who want to overtake;
2) If you are in a group and you stop to admire a characteristic spot or to wait for one of your friends who has got lost in the Venetian labyrinth, remember to leave enough room for those to get past who know exactly where they are coming from and where they are heading.....
3) Try not to sit down and rest on the steps of the busiest bridges (for example, the Rialto bridge) hindering the vital and rushed pedestrian circulation;

Finally, one more warning:
- be very careful when you hear someone shout "ocio ae gambe" (trans.. "watch your legs"), it means that someone is arriving with a handcart at high speed, probably heavily loaded and therefore difficult to control and slow down..