Police Road-side checks

This inter Europe checking of databases is in its early days. Police in Spain and France have been pretending they check details for years.

it's because IF one is driving an Italian registered car one has to have the certificate (mot) of revisione in the car with you.IF you don't/or it is not up to date then the car can be immediately sequestered...it happened to me...one is not allowed to proceed any further..if they're not feeling too nasty they MAY give you a paper to allow you to go straight home (if nearby) but you can't use the car until it's all sorted out (plus the fine of course)....

A number of years ago I too was pulled over in a routine check. In Italy you are required to carry all orginal copies of the relevant documents ie licence. insurance docs and the 'libretto' with revisione (MOT) stickers on the reverse - we only had photocopies in the car. When the carabinieri questioned why the copies I pointed out to them that in the UK I had always been told to carry copies so that in the event of the car being stolen the thief would only have the copies and not original docs - after some deliberation they agreed that would be a sensible policy and sent us on our way!

A point here................when does an italian car need it's first 'MOT', is it AFTER it is 4 years old ? S

MOT or "revisione" on the 4th year and from then on alternate years, as per EU norms. http://www.autoitalia.it/utilita/revisioni.asp