A controversial crackdown on car windscreen washers in Florence kicked into action on Tuesday with more than 15 arrests in the Tuscan city.
The washers risk up to three months in jail or a fine of 206 euros.
Florence officials announced on Monday that they wanted to rid the city of the washers, generally poor immigrants stationed at traffic lights who clean up motorists' dirty windscreens in exchange for a few coins.
The city argued that the phenomenon had become a security risk and that insistent washers were pestering and in some cases haranguing motorists, particularly unaccompanied women drivers.
Graziano Cioni, a member of Florence's left-wing city council who is responsible for city safety, said that protests over the immigrants had shot up in recent months.
"There have been numerous cases of arguments and even fights breaking out at traffic lights... Motorists complain that the washers have become more aggressive, especially with women alone in their cars," Cioni said.
The council stressed that immigrants possessed no legal licences to wash cars and claimed the job also represented a health hazard because washers tossed their dirty water into the street.
It warned that any immigrants caught with a bucket and sponge at any city traffic lights would be immediately arrested.
"We are not targeting poor people and beggars. This is a response to the arrogance and belligerence of many washers towards motorists who don't give them as much as they want," Cioni said.
But some critics of the measure said it was excessive and accused the council of racism.
Local members of the hard-left Communist Refoundation Party said that "the council has gone over the top here. This goes against a Florence tradition of welcoming and accepting people, whoever they are and wherever they come from".
"This is a shocking ban which punishes people who have no other way to survive and I can't believe a left-wing council would do such a thing," said leftist politician Ornella De Zordo.
Italian human rights association Arci also said it was shocked.
Arci Chairman Paolo Beni said that "it has to be remembered that these people are struggling to make money and doing the best they can. The council can't target all washers just because some of them behave badly".
Meanwhile, opposition officials dismissed the ban as a "propaganda exercise".
"If they really want to do something about this problem, they should deport the washers, most of whom are here illegally," said rightist Senator Achille Totaro.
But Verona Mayor Flavio Tosi, a member of the opposition Northern League which is often criticised as anti-immigrant, said he would introduce a similar ban if the Florence measure proved effective.
Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni pointed out on Tuesday that many windscreen washers were children who were being exploited by criminal organisations.
"We need to smash the rackets rather than punish individual washers," Veltroni said.
