Regional court backs new taxes for commercial use of public land.

The Lazio regional administrative tribunal (TAR) has upheld the decision by Rome mayor Ignazio Marino to increase the rates for use of public land by the city's mobile traders.

Dismissing an appeal filed by business associations, the court found that Marino's decision to triple the rates from 1 January 2014 was "absolutely legitimate."

Under Marino, the city increased taxes for traders using public land from €92 to €325 for 50 sales points of "soft drinks and ice creams", and up to €279 for a further 19 mobile snack bars licensed to sell "sorbets and confectionery."

In a further victory for the embattled mayor, the courts also upheld the city's efforts to curtail the number of restaurant and bar tables illegally placed in areas of the historic centre such as Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.

In July the same regional court backed Marino's contentious plan to move street traders from areas of archaeological and historic importance in the city centre.