ROME, March 9 (UPI) -- Italy has begun targeting tax evaders in an attempt to deal with its $2.5 trillion public debt and revive its economy, officials said.
Tax collectors have been sent out to find tax evaders throughout the country, primarily focusing on stores, hotels and restaurants in affluent Italian cities, The New York Times reported Friday.
Financial police have been stopping luxury cars and asking drivers to show their licenses, along with their most recent tax returns.
Some business owners said the scrutiny is welcome.
"I think what they are doing is right -- we all have to pay taxes," said Anna Leo, a restaurant owner who was interviewed by tax collectors.
She said officers had been "very polite" and had tried not to get in the way when they were in her restaurant.
Leo said there is a "greater sense of fear" among her colleagues.
"But even that is better," she said. "Too many people have taken advantage of others, and that isn't right."
Critics of the new measures said they can be discriminatory, particularly in stopping people driving nice cars.
"Cars are already registered, so there's no need to adopt terrorist tactics to verify ownership," said Andrea Nicoletto, president of the 50-member Lamborghini Club Italia.
Nicoletto said "many members don't want to take their cars out in public anymore."
