In many cities in Italy, but especially in Florence, there are a large number of people who sell purses, sunglasses, watches, and other small trinkets along the side of major tourist routes. Most of the items being sold are knockoffs of brand name items, such as fake Rolex watches and fake Louis Vitton handbags. This practice is illegal. Some police units, especially those in Florence, have begun to crack down on these vendors and the people who buy from them. If you are caught buying something from these illegal vendors you can expect to be fined hundreds of euro on the spot, payable immediately. Unlike the illegal sellers, legal street vendors display their licenses in their marketplace booths and pay taxes on the goods they sell. Most illegal vendors display their merchandise on towels or small blankets to make it easy to run away. Note our illegal vendor in the picture whose "tote" for knock-off prints lets him fold up and run at a whistle's notice.
In this photo, a vendor chills while waiting for the polizzia locale to disband.
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