Doubts rising on Rome's new fining rules

ROME - The new fines on people that sit down on Rome's iconic Spanish Steps have provoked mixed reactions.

Last week, the Rome municipal government began to crack down on tourists who sit on any of the 174 steps that start at Piazza di Spagna and climb up to the Piazza Trinita della Monti.

Advocates of the ban argue that the huge number of tourists sitting on the steps make it difficult to navigate them and they often leave behind garbage. They say it is part of a wider effort to clean up the city and making it more attractive to tourists.