Two tourists Wednesday morning after the Italian mayor accused his duo of being "idiots" on social media. A customer has been arrested for speeding down Venice's Grand Canal on an electric surfboard.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has posted videos of surfers galloping in front of water buses and taxis, promising to buy dinner for anyone who identifies them.
In another clip shared on social media, one of the surfers fell off his board under the Accademia Bridge, but kept his phone out of the water to capture his fellow surfers in action. I made it
Brugnaro wrote that the suspects were "his two intimidating fools mocking the city."
The suspects were arrested later that day and he was fined $1,530 and exiled from the city, respectively. They also have their expensive electric propeller boards confiscated and face further legal action for damaging the city's image, officials said in a statement.
Venice has strict rules governing conduct within its canals and buildings. It is against the law to swim in the roadless city canals or eat on the steps of the monuments.
Ecco due imbecilli prepotenti che si fanno beffa della Città… chiedo a tutti di aiutarci a individuarli per punirli anche se le nostre armi sono davvero spuntate…servonoemente più Poteri ai Sindaci in tema di sicurezza pubblica!
— Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) August 17, 2022
A chi li individua offro una cena! pic.twitter.com/DV2ONO3hUs
Two Germanstook 1,000 from the city in 2019 for brewing coffee at the famous Rialto Bridge. He was fined a dollar and ordered never to return to the Veneto capital.
To combat overtourism and offset the costs of serving local governments, the city plans to introduce a visitor tax next year .
A tourist without a hotel room must make a reservation and pay $10.50 for him to gain access to the Canal City. Most visitors to Venice do not stay overnight.
with post wire
