ROME – A 72-year-old who was fined for filling in a pothole has had the penalty overturned, said the Justice of the Peace in Monza.

 Claudio Trenta, who lives in the comune of Barlassina, used bitumen to fill in a pothole on a pedestrian crossing last year, because he thought it had become dangerous.

 He had reported it to the authorities multiple times, however they did not do anything, until he took matters into his own hands.

 The local council fined him 882 euros for violating article 21 of the Highway Code which does not allow work to be carried out “on the municipal rode and on its relevance without the prior authorisation of the relevant authority.” As well as being fined, he was ordered to remove the bitumen which was called as “illegal work.”

 However, the Justice of the Peace overturned this ruling and ordered the local council to repay Trenta. The verdict was reached after the first hearing, although Trenta said he was ready to present witnesses.

 The pensioner seemed relieved, saying he had “acted for the good of the community” and that he “would do it again.”

 He said that the council now “intervene immediately” whenever there is an issue on the roads.

 khg