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Italy bans angry gestures but not tongue

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ROME, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Italians can be fined for using traditional insulting hand gestures against fellow motorists but can say anything to vent their rage.

Italy's supreme court has outlawed rude gestures that risk a fight. However, using the full Italian vocabulary of obscenities is OK, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

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The high court earlier this week upheld the guilty verdict and fine against a man for making threatening gestures against another driver who had overtaken his vehicle.

The court has taken forays into other aspects of road etiquette. In a recent ruling, it said drivers who illegally park in such a way as to block another vehicle committed "private violence." They were thus subject to fines and risked a prison term, the court ruled.

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