A safe ride on "Botticella" and other Rome, Italy Tourist Trap Tips

If you are thinking about taking a ride on a Botticella Romana pay attention to there few guidelines which will help you avoid any potential unpleasantness: the prices, established by the Town Council, range from 50.000 lire for a 30 minute tour to 85.000 lire for a 1 hour ride. The coachmen should display the list of charges and are obliged to issue a receipt. Each ‘botticella’ has an identification number. Note this when you get on as to be able to recognize it in case of any problem.

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At Least Do This: If the coachmen asks for a ridiculous amount of money (like 500.000 lire or one million - as they sometimes do to tourists), refuse to pay and call the police (the Vigile Urbano). Coachmen risk a heavy fine and I’m sure that if you threaten to call the police, they will be more reasonable! Of course unpleasant situations are not necessarily the rule but at least you are in the know now.
Alternative: I think this ride is nice to enjoy Rome from a differrent perspective, but I'd prefer walking to stop wherever I want!