Published 24.5.2004 | Last update 2.1.2017 | €1 = CHF0.93
The Swiss have a reputation for rigidly and regularly enforcing their speed limits.
It is easy to get your license withdrawn and at the same time pay a very heavy fine. Even jail is possible.
It is easy to get your license withdrawn and at the same time pay a very heavy fine. Even jail is possible.
Index : 176% of European mean value
| 0.5‰ | €560 | €85 | €245 | €234 |
| The important numbers : | ||||
| Limit – km/h | 30 | 50 | 80 | 120 |
| Fine +21km/h | 30df(1 | €560 | €374 | €243 |
| Fine +41km/h | jail | 120df(1 | 60df(1 | 30df(1 |
| LICENSE – min. 1 month | 50 | 71 | 106 | 151 |
| 1) Dayfines – Tagessätze. See below. | ||||
If you break the limits with more than 20 to 40 km/h and get your license withdrawn, the fines will be set according to your taxable income and wealth (Tagessatz). With a high income you will have to pay a high fine.
This guy got a 200 000 euro fine for doing 130 km/h through a village with his Ferrari …
This guy got a 200 000 euro fine for doing 130 km/h through a village with his Ferrari …
TOLERANCE:
Up to 100 km/h: 5 km/h, 101 to 150 km/h: 6 km/h, over 150 km/h: 7 km/h for fixed speed cameras.
Up to 100 km/h: 5 km/h, 101 to 150 km/h: 6 km/h, over 150 km/h: 7 km/h for fixed speed cameras.
Speeding and other traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines.
You may go to jail in Switzerland for excessive speeding.
The details on this are not clear. Any advice is appreciated.
The details on this are not clear. Any advice is appreciated.
| Switzerland in detail : | |||
| Violation | Fine (CHF) | Fine (Euro) | |
| +1-5 km/h | 40 | €38 | |
| +30 km/h | +6-10 km/h | 120 | €112 |
| +11-15 km/h | 250 | €234 | |
| +16-17 km/h | 400 | €374 | |
| Warning | +18-19 km/h | 600 | €560 |
| LICENSE – 1 month | +20-24 km/h | 30 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +25-29 km/h | 50 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +30-34 km/h | 90 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – min 3 months | +35-39 km/h | +120 Tagessätze(1 | |
| JAIL – min 1 year | +40 km/h | minimum 1 year | |
| +1-5 km/h | 40 | €38 | |
| +50 km/h | +6-10 km/h | 120 | €112 |
| +11-15 km/h | 250 | €234 | |
| +16-20 km/h | 400 | €374 | |
| LICENSE – 1 month | +21-24 km/h | 600 | €560 |
| LICENSE – 1 month | +25-29 km/h | 20 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +30-34 km/h | 50 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +35-39 km/h | 70 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – min 3 months | +40-49 km/h | +120 Tagessätze(1 | |
| JAIL – min 1 year | +50 km/h | minimum 1 year | |
| +1-5 km/h | 40 | €38 | |
| +80 km/h | +6-10 km/h | 100 | €95 |
| +11-15 km/h | 160 | €150 | |
| +16-20 km/h | 240 | €224 | |
| +21-25 km/h | 400 | €374 | |
| LICENSE – 1 month | +26-29 km/h | 600 | €560 |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +30-34 km/h | 20 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +35-39 km/h | 30 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +40-44 km/h | 60 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – min 3 months | +45-49 km/h | 90 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – min 3 months | +50-59 km/h | +120 Tagessätze(1 | |
| JAIL – min 1 year | +60 km/h | minimum 1 year | |
| +1-5 km/h | 20 | €19 | |
| +120 km/h | +6-10 km/h | 60 | €56 |
| +11-15 km/h | 120 | €112 | |
| +16-20 km/h | 180 | €168 | |
| +21-25 km/h | 260 | €243 | |
| +26-30 km/h | 400 | €374 | |
| LICENSE – 1 month | +31-34 km/h | 600 | €560 |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +35-39 km/h | 20 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +40-44 km/h | 30 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – 3 months | +45-49 km/h | 50 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – min 3 months | +50-54 km/h | 60 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – min 3 months | +55-59 km/h | 70 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – min 3 months | +60-64 km/h | 90 Tagessätze(1 | |
| LICENSE – min 3 months | +65-79 km/h | +120 Tagessätze(1 | |
| JAIL – min 1 year | +80 km/h | minimum 1 year | |
| 1) Tagessätze. Based upon your taxable income and wealth. Swiss law explains: “Ein Tagessatz beträgt höchstens 3000 Franken. Das Gericht bestimmt die Höhe des Tagessatzes nach den persönlichen und wirtschaftlichen Verhältnissen des Täters im Zeitpunkt des Urteils, namentlich nach Einkommen und Vermögen, Lebensaufwand, allfälligen Familien- und Unterstützungspflichten sowie nach dem Existenzminimum.” Source: the Bussenkatalog Source: ch.ch – Geschwindigkeitsüberschreitungen Source: Schweiz – Reiseinformationen Fines and reactions may change without any warnings. Values in Euro are approximate. |
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13.10.2022 @ 20:19
Crap. My only previous experience driving in Central Europe was in Germany where after a speed limit on the motorway ends there is the black and white sign signaling the end of the speed limit and then there is no speed limit. I rented a car for one week in Switzerland and they had the same signs, and I assumed it was the same and often drove 140 to 150 km/hr in motorway areas without speed limit signs. Others seemed to be going fast too, but not as fast as me. I just found out today from a friend that the speed limit is 120 km/hr, even though I didn’t see a sign stating 120 km/hr limit anywhere. Now I’m nervous about receiving some crazy fines from my can rental company in the next few weeks. I didn’t see any speed cameras except in areas with posted limits such as 100 or 80. However, I didn’t pay much attention in areas without signs, because I didn’t think I was illegally speeding. Also, I didn’t see any camera flashes, but perhaps they don’t flash in Switzerland?
28.03.2024 @ 15:17
Hi Ken, what ended up happening with you because I’m in the same boat now! ☹️
09.07.2022 @ 11:59
What can I do if my fine was converted to jail time. I had full intention to pay but it was in French and it was difficult to understand and I kept it aside only to forget about it. Then I moved home and the notices were sent to my old address. finally last week my old tenant gave me all the mail and I saw that it was converted to jail time. Now what is my option?
I want to visit again. Is there anyway I can contact the police and just pay whatever is needed to convert jail time back to a fine and be done with it?
11.09.2022 @ 22:17
Where did you “go back” home?
20.06.2023 @ 21:01
What did you end up finding out? I have a similar situation.
23.05.2022 @ 02:33
Egy olyan kérdésem lenne, hogy ha egy nap 3x belementünk egy traffiba de maximum 4-6 km/h-val léptünk túl a sebességhatárt, akkor mire számíthatunk?
(Magyar rendszámmal rendelkezünk)
23.05.2022 @ 02:34
I would have a question, if we went into a traffic 3x a day but exceeded the speed limit by a maximum of 4-6 km / h, what can we expect?
(We have a Hungarian license plate)
11.06.2022 @ 15:25
Háromszor 20-40 Euró!
11.09.2022 @ 22:21
Már nagyon bánom, hogy nem olvastam utána svájcnak jobban. Simán úgy kezeltem 2 napig a limitjeiket, mint itthon, hogy +10-15 az nem probléma autópályán, meg nem lakott területen. Egy nem autópályás tunnel biztosan villant, meg talán 2-3 autópályás valami. Mikor várható magyar rendszámmal, hogy megérkezzenek a fineok? És egyben lesz a kétnapnyi, vagy egyesével? Borzasztó rossz emlék ez, egy amúgy teljesen jó vakáció után, főleg, hogy egyáltalán nem vagyok gyorshajtó, rettentő bosszantó 🙁
30.04.2022 @ 17:51
Hi all great site this! Great in put too, from all aroud the world! is the licence Ban only in Switzerland or UK to ?
13.09.2022 @ 18:21
A foreign licence ban from the Swiss authorities generally only applies in Switzerland.
30.11.2021 @ 08:08
Has anyone tried to apply for this service? https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/fedpol/en/home/publiservice/auskunft.html
this is to see if your name is registered in their system and required to be arrested when entering Switzerland.
21.11.2021 @ 13:38
Does anyone know how long the speeding ticket will last in their system?. I got a speeding ticket in 2018 (I got notified by the renting company, but never received it officially in my mail), and since then I tried to figure out how to pay it but I could not. What will happened to me when I arrive switzerland in the future? The fine was only 120 CHF. is it possible to pay this fine at the airport? or I will be arrested and jailed ??? Anyone has an idea?. I don’t want to be in this situation in the future with my family. Please help.
16.07.2022 @ 13:44
Hi,
Something similar happened to my parents recently, they had come to CH to visit us and had previously received been flashed with 135 km/h on the highway (<240 CHF). They once went back to a parking and found their car immobilized with a police band around it and a message to contact the police as soon as they come back to their car.
I called the police on their behalf, who explained that some countries didn’t exchange data, so they couldn’t send a ticket. My parents were free to drive, but should give them the address to send the ticket before leaving CH. I gave them my address, they send me the ticket and I paid on their behalf.
Overall, this was very uncomplicated.
10.11.2021 @ 11:01
I got insanely large fine from Switzerland of 5200 CHF (I already paid there deposit of 1350 CHF at the police station). What would happen if I didn’t pay? Is only thing I have to do to avoid Switzerland for 3 years? I live in Czech, so may I face some consequences here?
30.04.2022 @ 17:23
Hi all great site this! Great in put too, from all aroud the world! is the licence Ban only in Switzerland or UK to ?
09.11.2021 @ 23:59
Hello, I am wondering if somebody could give me some advice. I was caught on radar in Switzerland last month when I was going at 139 km/h (when calculating tolerance) in 80 km/h limit and had to pay fine of 1350 CHF which I was assured by cop that should solve the case. They let me free after payment at the station and cop had told me that now case’s gonna go to judge and he’s gonna measure proper fine which should be around deposit I have paid and if not, maximum would be 1500 CHF.
Today I got letter from Switzerland and judge want me to pay additional 4450 CHF (judge measured fine to 5200 CHF + legal fees) which is ridiculous. So I guess 2 options now, first is to appeal but I doubt that judge will decrease fine to some reasonable amount if any. And second is to not pay. If I didn’t pay what would happen? I live in Czech Republic and I read that that I would be in Swiss RIPOL database and could not enter Switzerland for 3 years. Does that mean that I should only avoid Switzerland for 3 years and after that it is OK to even go there? Does Swiss law enforcement somehow work with Czech and may I be in trouble in Czech Republic or some other state except of Switzerland?
Thank you very much for any response.
15.05.2023 @ 17:10
but, is it all the conversations happened by email? or you appeared before the judge directly?
15.05.2023 @ 17:57
I am in a similar scenario. What have you done? did you paid? Does all the conversations happened via letter / email or do you have to physically appear before the judge?
12.10.2021 @ 02:04
Does anyone know what is the time bar for traffic offences in Switzerland? Is it 5 years as for other offences?
28.10.2021 @ 11:09
Here, https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/fedpol/en/home/polizei-zusammenarbeit/strassenverkehr.html , on the bottom of the page, it says : Foreign motorists who do not pay their Swiss fine and whose fine has subsequently been converted to a prison sentence are registered in the police alert database RIPOL for a period of up to three years.
05.11.2021 @ 04:29
Thank you George,
But do you know what happens if you committed a traffic offense, but you were never fined nor sentenced? You got a letter, that the case is being checked, 2 years have passed since then and you haven’t heard anything from them. I am wondering how much time do they have to fine you by the Statsanwalt…?
12.02.2021 @ 21:21
Hello everyone,
I got decree of indictment from swiss court that accuses me of speeding 2 times (driving 122 when the limit was 80KM ) within half hour period.
Even though I have already paid 2000 CHF, they still sentence me to criminal penalty (art 34e seg . CPS )of 7500CHF (suspended for 3 years though).
I hold a belgium driver lisense living in France
Does anyone have a similar case? how the criminal penalies will be enforced in the end?
Is there a need to appeal or argue that that’s too much to pay consider our financial situation?
does anyone have similiar case?
Thank you very much
23.04.2021 @ 14:13
I was flashed at 90 km/h in a zone limited at 60 km/h I am very worried.. don’t exactly know what will happen.
20.06.2023 @ 20:55
What ended up happening for you? I have a similar case.
15.07.2020 @ 09:32
I left my French registered car with a parking valet company ‘ parking friend’ at Geneva airport. Whilst he had the car (the day after I handed it over)he made an unauthorised trip to central Geneva and picked up a speeding ticket. It took a while for the ticket to reach me at the registered address in France (it was addressed incorrectly ) I replied giving them evidence of drop off through exchanged texts with the valet parking, my flight details showing I flew to London the day before the offence and returned ten days later, the Valet Parker’s name and address. Apparently I didn’t sign the form so the fine increased. I wrote again and asked them to review it and let common sense prevail. I am not paying a fine for something I didn’t do and as we know in the UK it’s an offence to say you were driving if you were not. I assume the same for Switzerland. The valet parking man never returned my calls I don’t think he operates anymore.
I got an 8 page legal letter, my french is limited, and court fees of 400 Swiss francs.
These people are Mad and not going to stop as far as I can see. I’m never going to pay for an offence I didn’t commit.
My question is : if I never go to Switzerland again am I in the clear ?
03.10.2020 @ 09:50
A friend of mine used my car for about two weeks last year in my absence. I received two letters from the police of canton Bern about tailgating and speeding. The speeding was within 10 km/h so I paid it and did not bother to explain the police. However, for tailgating I was called to the police. In Switzerland the cameras always take pictures of drivers in case drivers refuse to admit any wrong doing. I have explained the police that it was not me (I even did not need to prove my absence in CH for that period). They looked at the pictures, took my friends details and I was not charged with dangerous driving.
06.05.2020 @ 23:50
Dear All,
I hope you can advice me in my situation.
I was speeding driving the rental car in St Moritz in Jan 2019 and I’ve got caught by the speed camera.
Since January nothing has been received in post (I live in London, UK).
In Feb 2020 I went on holiday to Megeve and at the immigration entry point in Geneva I was detained by police who explained that I have an outstanding speeding ticket (which I never received by post – I assumed that car rental company has my home address on provided driving license). After an interview with the interpreter they told me that I will receive by post and email my fine to pay and if I will not pay, next time I enter Switzerland I might go to jail.
Three months in and I haven’t received anything…
My question is there an official portal where I can find my fine and pay it online?
Thank you in advance for all your answers.
Kindest,
Andrew
21.04.2020 @ 19:31
Hi, I need a piece of advice from somebody experienced in Switzerland. I got caught making a U-turn in a tunnel in South Switzerland. The police brought me to the police station (although technically I wasn’t arrested), called the translator, interrogated me and charged me for making a U-turn in a tunnel. They demanded a deposit in lieu of the fine which was to be decided lated by the Staatsanwalt. Hopefully I had a limit on my card so they were not able to take as much as thet wanted but still the secured a few hundred francs. A month from the date I got a letter saying that ‘they are chceking it’. Then, a year has passed and nothing happened. Do you know how much time do they have to sentence me until the time bar comes in? I understand that if they do nothing until certain time I can demand getting my money back.
09.07.2020 @ 00:25
Anybody has an idea?
07.10.2020 @ 23:49
U turn in a tunnel? They shoul have throw away you license and impounded your car…
07.01.2020 @ 00:43
I have been driving in Switzerland in a road work and they knocked down the speed from 120 to 80 in the A2 motorway. They didn’t delete the white lines on the tarmac and there was huge confusion on the tarmac because the yellow and white lines were crossing one each other and plus there was a board that was saying to not drive with another vehicle on your side but I couldn’t understand if this prescription was just in case the vehicle on your side is a lorry or every vehicle. In the meanwhile I was trying to sort the messy situation I saw a flash from a speed camera 300 meters in front of me and the car next my right side.
I have got four questions.
My speed on the odometer was between 88 and 92 (approximately) instead of 80.
Is it possible after the camera tolerance adjustment I would receive a fine?
Is it possible the flash light wasn’t very bright like in uk,france and italy? Because I think could also be the sun reflection…
Is it possible it is a kind of scam? Because I saw that flash many time , I mean everibody was overspeeding cause the messy situation they build in that section of A2?
If I receive I fine can I make a report because that segment of road is dangerous and put the motorist life in danger and put the speed camera there to make speed fine to confused people is a scam?
18.09.2022 @ 19:56
Hi Ricardo,
Did you get the fine after your post? The same situation happened to me and i am trying to understand what i should expect?
Thanks
How inaccurate is your speedometer? - Page 2 - Toyota GT 86 Forums UK
31.12.2019 @ 11:40
[…] I always do my research before making a multi-country trip. This is an excellent site: SpeedingEurope | Switzerland The link opens on the Swiss page, which is not filling me with enthusiasm for my trip there this […]
09.12.2019 @ 20:49
Some advice welcomed please if you are suitably informed! In 2014/15 I had a driving ban for 3 months + fine (speeding) and now have a similar offence (slightly less excessive speed, but within the 1month ban range) in process. I hold my hand up to the speeding, I accept that Switzerland has it’s laws and their sanctions, I’d just like a heads up on what the consequences might be for a second offence, if the first one is time limited or if the sanction is compounded. Thanks in advance
03.12.2019 @ 16:31
Went to Switzerland for vacation. Accidentally drove at 56kmh at a speed limit of 50kmh, the fine was 120CHF. They sent the summon letter to the wrong address, and till to date when I received the summon it had increased to 190CHF. The letter is written in French, which I cant understand a single word of it. They should have send them in English if they were to send it internationally. In conclusion, try to avoid driving in Switzerland to avoid the hassles. Nice country but not when comes to driving.
25.11.2019 @ 12:13
Hi, just to inform you guys.
I ended up paying a total sum of 1420CHF !!!
The reason was that I was driving too close to the car in front of me for 35 seconds!!!
I know Switzerland is hard on traffic fines, so whenever I pass Switzerland I keep to the speed limits.
But this time there was a car in front of me that was driving at 100Km/h on the left lane where 120Km/h was allowed.
Little did I know that there was an anonymous BMW from the Police behind me filming me. I approached the car because I was driving 120Km/h on cruise control, but the car did not move the right lane even when there was space to do so.
I think this is outrageous! I’m a decent driver, but the Police just took a snapshot of me for 35 seconds and I’m more than a criminal to them! At least that is what I think. They told me that they just entered the highway on a ramp a couple of minutes before. So I was just having bad luck. They told me aswell that they understand that foreigners don’t know all the Swiss traffic laws.
Another thing was that they started to ask me many private questions about my wage, other income, house loan, my wife’s income etc… They said it was to calculate my fine. I had to pay 900CHF upfront before I could continue driving home.
Apparently driving too close to the front car is a case for the court.
I didn’t agree on the fine, but ended up paying it all.
I didn’t even receive an inventation to the court so that at least I could send a lawyer to work for me.
Everything was handled by themselves. All communication was done in German, a language that I don’t understand.
Their websites were German, French or Italian. Luckily my French is not too bad, but still the type of language used on these government sites is still dificult to apprehend.
So the total court fine was 1420CHF:
Busse: 500 CHF
Urteilsgebuhr: 200 CHF
Ubrige verfahrenskosten: 360 CHF
And then also an administration cost for the Police department that had stopped me: 360 CHF
Furthermore I cannot drive for 3 months in Switzerland and a probation of 2 years for doing the same thing again plus fine of 1000CHF (without all the other court costs etc…)
I must say, in all honesty, that I am rather astonished by the amount of the fine.
Cheers
07.01.2020 @ 10:59
A little later I received an extra letter from the local police department that had stopped me. They also calculated an extra administration fee of 306CHF.
So this adds up the total amount to 1726CHF.
Luckily I have a Legal Insurance included to my car insurance, that way I can claim all the costs for the legal administration fees.
I ended up paying just the 500CHF fine and had 1226CHF payed back by the insurance company. This eases off the pain.
But still 500CHF plus 3 months ban is way too much for driving too close to the car in front of you for 35 seconds.
But that’s my opinion…
12.02.2020 @ 22:54
I’m usually not sympathetic to individuals committing offenses, but on this one I’m totally with you. The guy/woman was impeding traffic by doing 100 in the left lane, he/she have been slapped with a hefty fine for not keeping left. Had they kept right, the infraction wouldn’t have been committed! Did they write in the documents what was the distance measured between your car and the car in front compared with the legal minimum given the speed? If you were driving 100, then you had to keep the distance of at least 55m ((100:3,6)*2)) or 67m at 120. Without that measurement, how could they prove your infraction in court?
Now in terms of enforcing the safety distance, the other countries come to my mind: Germany and Slovenia. In Germany they’ve started using drones to measure distances between vehicles and the fines get steeper depending on the distance. Fines are modest compared to CH (about 100 EUR), but you can be slapped with a 1-month driving ban. In Slovenia, you might see cops with special equipment standing on bridges, especially during the rush hour (also enforced outside the freeway network). The equipment uses the formula I wrote above to calculate whether you’re keeping the minimum prescribed distance, and it can happen that fines are sent out for being 80 cm too close… The fine is 200 EUR, but can increase to 900 EUR + 9 demerit points if they also slap with you with a citation for dangerous driving. That’s a very hefty penalty when you consider what wages in SLO are 70-75% lower than in CH..
03.06.2022 @ 00:46
This is a very very interesting measurement, what the Swiss police did to you.
They were driving-stalking behind you for 35 seconds (at 100+ km/h about 1000 m distance travelled) , while your car has grossly obscured the “slow” hindering car in front of you from their vision. It may have not been obscured from their view completely (if a lorry but then it would not drive at 100 km/h), but enough for not being able to track-home their radar on it.
Very well, even an average layer would have asked at the court, how could they accurately measure the distance between you and the “slow” car in front of you, if they barely could see the car in front of you???
I mean their onboard radar system can track the object in front of their police car (both your as well as the police car were moving so the measurement error even doubles), but cannot really see through your car what was upfront of you.
As somebody said, you have to see it from top (by a drone or from a bridge to count the time between passing cars) or side, but definitely not from behind your car.
The layer would have possibly refute the case, but a question were if his/her fee would not even more expensive than what you have paid.
11.10.2019 @ 22:50
We got a fine for driving 48 km instead of 40?
We thought the speed limit inside towns is 50???
Is 40 normall in Swiss?
03.09.2019 @ 20:01
Hi, A camera flashed at us as we saw the temporary speed limit sign too late and didn’t slow down in time, we were doing 57km/h and the limit was 50km/hrs reduced from 80km/h due to one lane being coned off. This was 2 weeks ago and we expected to come home to a fine, but have not received anything yet, if we were to get a fine how long would it take to come normally? We were driving our own car not a lease.
10.10.2019 @ 19:08
I got my fine/ticket on October 10, the “speeding” took place July 8, so about 4 months/
13.10.2019 @ 13:44
When was flsahed in September last year, I didn’t receive a notice until somewhere around February this year. It will take some time…
04.05.2019 @ 14:54
I rented a car in my home country last year and used it for a road trip throughout Europe, which included Switzerland.
I got caught by a speeding camera in Zurich… after correction I was 18km/h too fast. I remember being flashed while I was taking over another car.
The thing is, I didn’t get a fine, but a letter from the Zutich police asking me for more information about myself. Name, address, date of birth etc. Which I find a bit strange, because they already have my home address from the rental company. Not sure if they have my passport or drivers license information. There is no fine amount mentioned to be paid in the letter.
It seems like they are trying to build a dossier on me or something like that. I have received two exactly the same letters, requesting my information. Both are automated letters and not signed.
Not sure how to proceed. I don’t really feel like paying 400CHF, so I am ignoring the letters so far. I have happen to have moved to a new house in another city in the mean time, so the rental agency doesn’t have my latest adress anymore either. The request for information letters are sent to my old house. Unless they start teaming up with my country’s police department, I don’t think they can find me or even know who I am exactly. If they knew, why would they ask me about more information about myself? Why not just send me the fine?
Anyone else who has had this happened before? How did you proceed? I am espcially interesed in persons who chose to ignore these kind of letters.
22.06.2019 @ 23:14
I live in Switzerland, the fine is on record and interest will be added. If you step foot in Switzerland again you could get stopped and asked to settle a fine. This recently happened to an Australian who had to pay 8000 CHF or go to jail. Be warned.
01.08.2019 @ 16:15
I have received a penalty order for 500CHF plus 260CHF costs, or a custodial sentence of 16 days… how do I pay the fine? im in the UK..The penalty order isn’t very clear
13.10.2019 @ 13:51
For anyone interested, I gave them my information and ended up paying the fines. The final amount was completely ridiculous. I got a 370 CHF fine for speeding 18km/h after correction. Added to that was 330 CHF for ‘Kosten und Gebuhrenpauschale”. So I ended up paying 700CHF, or around 650 Euro. On top of that, I recently received a 250CHF fine for “Ausl. Fuhrerausweis/Verwarnungsverfuging” which I just paid today. So the total fine for speeding 18Km/h was 950CHF / around 900 Euro’s.
Fuckers… I will never drive through Switzerland again…
04.05.2019 @ 07:21
I had a road traffic accident in Switzerland on a skiing holiday. I hit another car at a roundabout as I skid on the snow. I did not have winter tyres (although that is not law in Switzerland). My insurance company covered all the usual damage to both vehicles. However the Swiss issue fines. I was given an on the spot fine by the police for CHF 200. After having returned home to Blighty I received a letter from the Swiss prosecutor charging me a total of CHF 450 and a thank you for my deposit to the police. A CHF 250 bill followed. Non payment could have resulted in criminal proceedings so I paid it.
Then I received a third letter, this time from the Administrative arm, possibly the equivalent of the DVLA. They informed me that I would be banned for driving in Switzerland for one month. Fine I thought. Next came a fourth letter from the same authority saying the fees/fine was CHF 350. I thought this is ridiculous and have not paid. I decided to phone the number. The chap I spoke to had very good English. He agreed that the fine was extortionate and said even the Swiss think so. He suggested I don’t pay but said he couldn’t say that officially. He also said (twice) the fine will not incresse. Approximately 10 months later I have received the bill for CHF 350 giving me 10 days to pay with the threat of further action and a further CHF 80 if I don’t.
All letters are in Swiss German. I can only read English.
Any advice?
01.08.2019 @ 16:17
Hi Tom, I have a fine for 500CHF and 260 costs,, how do I pay the fine? Im in the UK
30.04.2022 @ 17:26
Hi all great site this! Great in put too, from all aroud the world! is the licence Ban only in Switzerland or UK to ?
08.07.2020 @ 16:22
As a British resident in Switzerland for the last six years I can say positively that laws vary from canton to canton. However if you were going on a skiing holiday then it is almost certain that you were in a canton where winter tyres are obligatory by law. In some cantons snow chains are also required in certain areas. The Swiss authorities take a VERY dim view of drivers that cause accidents by disregarding this rule. As a rule of thumb if you are driving anywhere in Switzerland between October and March, make sure you have winter tyres fitted. Most Swiss car owners (myself included) actually have two sets of wheels with appropriate tyres and the local garage will even store the off season set (for a fee of course – this is Switzerland).
02.04.2019 @ 12:40
Hi, I’ve just received a traffic fine of 300 CHF. I had rent the car in Munich, Germany on end of Oct 2018. I only exceeded built-in area (50 kmph) by 7 kmph (my speed was 57 kmph). Actual fine is 120 CHF, but I can’t understand, that there is also “Staatsgbühren” which is 180 CHF. Why do I need to pay a fine which is 2.5 of the actual ?
22.06.2019 @ 23:17
Pay you did the crime pay the fine, if you put a foot in Switzerland again you could get stopped and asked to pay the fine with interest.
12.07.2020 @ 00:10
The fine is to punish you, the additional sum is to cover the processing/trial costs.
It is like repairing the car: you pay the spare parts and mechanic’s work separately.
21.02.2019 @ 20:35
I received notification from my rental company saying I had a speeding ticket. They charged me 35 CHF, then got a letter from the police to pay around 80 CHF. I did so. NOW, I receive a letter that I owe 717 CHF for driving 124 km/hr in an 80 zone. I am confused as to their process. As a US citizen, would you suggest paying this, or just staying away for a few years? Over 800 CHF is a bit outrageous…..
29.03.2019 @ 13:41
Sounds like..
1. Charge from the Rental Company for their administration
2. Charge from the Police for their administration
3. The actual “fine”
https://www.ch.ch/en/driving-over-speed-limit/ (fines are graded) summons = bad!
As soon as you return to Switzerland they will “collect” on entry regardless of the time elapsed.
08.01.2019 @ 20:42
I went to Switzerland and got 5 speeding tickets mailed to my address in the UK. I was doing 170km/h on a 120km/h and didn’t give a shit. The only document that the police has is my UK driving license, so I don’t think they can do anything as I don’t think they have my passport details.
19.01.2019 @ 08:11
I live in Switzerland. I I lived in Uk for 10 yars . All i know about speeding in Switzerland is those guys are very persuasive in collecting taxes and fees . They don’t give up. They will keep sending you letters and the sume you have to pay will come with interest. At the end they could hire some collecting debts company in UK to keep harassing you. The speed you did is insain. In my opinion you are in very bad position either pay according the swiss law ( hefty fine + some warning ) or keep on being harassed. I don’t wish I was you !
And by the way- avoid enter the swiss border in case you choose ducking out … For your well being as an advice !!!
Good luck mate !!!
09.12.2018 @ 00:00
Hi guys,
Anyone know of the REAL answer to this question(either by personal experience or point me to the law please).
If a foreigner driving a hire car, receives a speeding fine for speeding in switzerland and doesn’t pay it (fine mailed to overseas address):
1. Do they detain you at airport if you visit again?
2. If so, can you pay on the spot?
3. Anything else that’s needed to be known.
Speeding fine was 1yr ago.
Thanks
05.01.2019 @ 12:39
I live in the UK and drive it Switzerland a lot. Mostly with hire cars. I have had three fines follow me home and have paid them. All due to fixed cameras. Very very expensive! A colleague did not pay and ignored several letters to pay. I was with him at Zurich airport when his passport was routinely scanned and police called to arrest him. He was left to go without paying upon insisting that he knew nothing about the fine that had risen by 100s of Swiss Francs due to non payment. He avoided Switzerland for over 2 years and now travels there safely. He was lucky. Unless the fine is really enormous then pay it if you want to go back to Switzerland within say 3 or 4 years. If you are stopped by the cops for huge speeds they can arrest you on the spot and put you in jail until you pay OR can even just leave you in jail for a YEAR. The one place you need to drive with care is Switzerland. They are nut cases when it comes to speed.
17.02.2019 @ 03:04
Hi Chris, since you paid fine three times, I’ like to seek for your kind input. I got a fine ticket for speeding in high way. But the but is written in French. I can’t read French and have no idea from the letter to know how to make the payment to the fine. How did you pay? What would you suggest me to do? PS: I am a Taiwanese lives in East Asia. Thanks.
27.03.2019 @ 23:52
Well they have the world’s safest roads together with Norway (both when measured in number of casualties per 100,000 inhabitants and per 100,000 vehicles), so their tough stance on traffic enforcement definitely pays off. Same with Norway. Their casualty rates are less than 1/4 those of the US for instance.
22.06.2019 @ 23:19
try google translator
13.07.2019 @ 10:34
Obviously reason for the high accident rates in the US is that everyone drives, everywhere and anytime, distance driven ber capita compared to rest of Europe is many many many times higher, they also let stupid 16 year olds drive, besides that I find the US traffic much calmer and stricter than most European countries.
31.08.2018 @ 10:20
What is the statute of limitations for unpaid traffic tickets in Switzerland please?
Thanks
25.09.2018 @ 13:39
Would be good to know that.
07.10.2020 @ 23:52
Never.
23.05.2021 @ 22:06
I think it’s three years
“Wir weisen Sie darauf hin, dass nach Schweizer Recht die Strafverfolgung und die Strafe von (Verkehrs-) Übertretungen erst nach drei Jahren verjährt (siehe StGB Art. 109).”
https://shpol.ch/CMS/Webseite/Schaffhauser-Polizei/Services-4993433-DE.html
26.06.2018 @ 11:58
ok guys i just drove from UK to Zurich in a UK rented car….. and was lead footed all the way, i mean between 100 and 120 mph…. so i guess after reading this i’m in the shit! i don’t remember seeing any camera flashes or anything like that but now i’m shitting myself as firstly it was a company rented vehicle and secondly iv’e only been working for them for the last 3 months…
is there anything i can do to soften the blow, being proactive etc?
Cheers
27.07.2018 @ 16:21
Returned from Europe trip via Switzerland to Germany. Got a speeding notice asking my details and income details and everything. It was around 170 Km/h on 120 km/h speed limit Autobahn. After adjustment +43 Km/h overspeeding. What to expect. Passive decision I have taken is not to go back to Switzerland in next three years after the final decision from the court in Swiss. Or what are the options?
01.02.2020 @ 12:16
Hi can you tell me more? I been caught today speeding 166 on motorway and just wondering about consequences
09.04.2019 @ 09:04
Im in the same boat and cant seem to get a straight answer. what I have noticed is that no one has commented that they didnt pay and then the police came to there house or that the debt collectors took everything, I only hear about a friend who didnt pay got in trouble when they went back… I never plan on going back tbh so ill leave it. I take it they are asking to confirm you was driving?
21.12.2019 @ 15:10
I’m in a even worse boat! 2 days of driving around Switzerland sticking to the speed limits all the time, I made one mistake on a road that was straight and clear and boom! Mobile camera hidden behind a building.
I’ve got a horrible feeling my fine will be at least 5 figures and I am struggling to find out what actually WILL happen if I ignore the letters? (I’ve had one already)
17.06.2018 @ 02:50
I just moved to Geneva I’m from Vienna Austria a camera caught me driving 120 km on a 90 km zone with my own car which is registered in my home address is Vienna and I don’t know what expect to get can someone help please I’m kinda worried
23.05.2018 @ 04:48
I received a fine of CHF40 in Australia in November 2017 for allegedly doing 58kmh in a 50kmh zone in August 2017. The Swiss police obtained my details from a Paris leasing company but could not simply pass the fine to them as the vehicle was in my name. I wrote to police requesting leniency as 1) I do not believe I exceeded the limit anywhere during my 10 day (2) The alleged speed was only 3kmh over their adjusted limit of 55. They refused my request and I offered to dispute the matter in their court. They have now sent a letter of demand for CHF220 that includes CHF180 enforcement fee. I do not believe that Switzerland has any reciprocal arrangements with Australia, and have no intention if paying them any amount. Watch this space
09.06.2018 @ 22:57
Fair play to you Sir!
01.10.2018 @ 12:02
Let me get this straight you get a 40CHF fine and refuse to pay it and allow it to escalate to the hundreds. You should have just paid the fucker and got it over with. Understand this in Switzerland if you don’t pay fines you go to prison to sit it off, there are Swiss who refuse to pay a couple hundred CHF in fines and spend a weekend in prison. But yes you are in Australia and the chances of Swiss justice catching you are close to zero lmao.
16.01.2019 @ 05:26
Stadex, thank you for your opinion (and yes this is a public forum). It is now 18 months since the alleged offence, and the registered letters stopped about 6 months ago (they were returned by Australia Post to Switzerland uncollected). Other letters mailed to my home were sent back “Not at Address”. If ever I return to Switzerland within the next 5 years I will simply drive across the border from Germany or France – not fly in to Zurich. Safe at home in Oz
17.08.2024 @ 11:28
I’m an Australian that had a rental in 2017 and was allegedly caught at a speed that was deemed a summons and loss of licence. I received a fine in the mail several months later which I ignored. I recall emailing the address on the letter asking for an English version and they obliged promptly. I read it and saw a four figure fine plus court summons. After seeing there is no reciprocal agreement with Australia I didn’t think of it again. I did find it interesting that the car rental company did not charge or slap me with any admin fees like any other country. Being wary, I avoided flying into Switzerland in 2023 just in case but certainly had my passport scanned at reciprocal countries but nothing happened. So I can say the RIPOL data does seem to expire after a few years (3?) I have this feeling I did read somewhere in my sessions translating Swiss law that traffic prosecution is waived after 7 years hence I’ll try going back to Switzerland from 2025.
Anyone had a big fine in the past and let a long number of years go by before returning to Switzerland?
15.03.2018 @ 14:33
Hi, I’ve just received a Ordonnance penale which says I was 26-29kmh over whatever speed limit was set. The bill is for 750CHF (approx. £550). They make it really hard to understand the detail, the contact Tel No is useless!!!
Is this just extortion from the tax haven for the rich and famous, cos I’m so NOT one of those.
Guess I’ll just have to pay up and shut up but couldn’t help posting something 🙁
09.06.2018 @ 22:53
Probably too late to help now but if you don’t plan to return for some time how can they enforce it?
20.09.2018 @ 08:57
Same thing with me in Belgium. Got the fine and the bastards kept sending letters for me to acknowledge. Then Belgian police got involved. Had an interview and they just checked my identity and if I was driving. I did admit that was me. Funny thing the picture showed no one on the driving seat as I have a LHD. Now I am slapped with a 650 FR. I would rather do 2 days jail time than pay that money
17.03.2019 @ 16:40
Jail time in Switzerland is 40.- CHF per day.
07.03.2018 @ 13:16
Hello, I am living in Switzerland, 2 week ago catch me one speed camera in Basle in zone 30km/h but until now I don’t receive any letter for fine.
05.06.2018 @ 02:33
I just received my letter today when I was entering the country at immigration for a speeding ticket fine that happened 7 months ago… So expect a delay
21.06.2019 @ 22:29
Hi hafiz
Can you please let me know the fine and the duration it took to get the letter etc..?
I have same situation like you today
26.01.2018 @ 21:11
I got flashed in a tunel from stans to zurich maybe doing 120kmh in a 80 tunnel which i thought was 100. What am i expected to pay? It was a rental car. Im from the UK
05.06.2018 @ 06:43
Have you received a ticket yet?
31.12.2017 @ 16:11
I’ve recently had a alleged speeding ticket through for June 2016 in Switzerland!
It says 139kph in an 80kph! I vaguely remember the camera going off. I was in the middle of nowhere and overtaking a coach before getting stuck behind it going up a steep Alps pass. The camera was a mobile one hidden behind what looked like a derelict shed.
My question is can they still prosecute me after nearly 18 months?
20.01.2018 @ 09:40
They can and they will.
09.06.2018 @ 22:46
They can try doesn’t mean they will be successful. What power do they really have?
27.01.2018 @ 14:54
Just got a speeding fine from switzerland for a hire car (+5kph / 40CHF), problem is I was never in that part of switzerland (I never even went into switzerland and was in france from Bazel / Mulhouse airport), and its for the month before I hired the car 18/07/17…. I suspect that either they asked for the wrong month or the hire company gave them the details of the driver for the wrong month (18 August, not July when the offence occured).
Joke is I just shredded all of the car hire documenation earlier in the week …..
They also got the spelling of my surname incorrect…. wonder how that one stands up for technicallities on a ticket…
21.12.2019 @ 18:17
David, what did you do about your speeding ticket and how has it panned/What did it cost?
19.10.2017 @ 22:03
OK news for all UK registered plates. First read this https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/05/british-motorists-continent-face-640-speeding-fines-saturday/
next, if its a mobile speed camera (handheld) you will have to pay ‘on-the-spot’ upto a point, after that, they will impound your vehicle.
if its a fixed radar ‘flasher’, you will receive down the line the details of the infraction and the required penalty.
I live in France and have just spoken with an English friend (19/10/17) who was flashed in a 50kph zone in Geneve on the 02/12/15 doing after adjustments 77 kph. Yes that it say December 2015.
They received the infringement today in the UK. Further, as it fall into the taxable income bracket, they are up for a big fine.
So glean from this DVLA will pass on your details and you will get fined. So no more speeding down through France at 160kph+ and definitely DONT do it in Switzerland.
09.06.2018 @ 23:34
Ok the dvla give them your details but that only means a fine is issued. It still has to be collected 😉
18.08.2017 @ 00:29
So, what happens if I dont have an income nor am I receiving state benefits. How do they fine me then?
23.08.2017 @ 18:18
The court will decide.
12.06.2017 @ 23:29
Great site with very useful info. After experincing this myself I think it’s important to add that sometimes their mobile radar traps can be hidden. First thing I knew one of them was in the middle of the road motioning me to pull over. 94kph in a 80kph zone, with the safety margin of 3kph applied I was 1kph over the 6-10kph zone. I asked but no they wouldn’t lower it 1kph more.
Noone coming the other way gave any warning, they couldn’t because they didn’t know they were there. I was using a video camera and watching the footage the one with the radar is up on a small hill to the left. The others were down a small track on the right with a car, far enough from the road that you would have to look down it to see them, waiting for a signal to come out and grab the next customer.
I thought I had taken enough precautions to avoid being a victim, I did not think or expect them to actually hide. Yes I was speeding but nowhere near a town and at a speed that was nowhere near dangerous so I do find them to be like highway robbers. I have no problem with the 60kph and even 50kph zones in towns but 80kph outside of built up areas is a joke of a speed limit so I doubt I’ll be back after this trip cos then I’ll have done all the passes. Beautiful views but not enjoyable riding because staying to the 80kph limit is no fun at all unless the roads are very tight. Going over it even just a little can be expensive and you never know where they might be hiding.
So watch out, especially on popular roads on weekends when the weather is good, they are good hunting days for these robbing c*nts! Come for the views and if you want to enjoy your riding even just a little be prepared to pay for it, odds are that you will.
23.08.2017 @ 18:21
“I thought I had taken enough precautions to avoid being a victim”
First of all, breaking the law is not being a victim.
Going no more than 3kph over is the correct and only way to avoid being a “victim”. I had similar issues when I moved here before adjusting to the culture of following laws and realising they are actually enforced. It is refreshing!
23.10.2017 @ 12:45
I think the chaps point is that he didn’t expect to be caught by a group of hidden policemen, that’s what made him feel like a victim and not the ‘breaking the law’ as you have said.
10.06.2017 @ 18:44
Hi my friends have been detained in Switzerland and are accused of racing and driving in convoy. They were undertaking the cannon ball run so were in a group. However they have been told that they will now spend 3 to 5 years in jail and have to pay the market value of their cars if they wish to get them back! Tho has ruined their lives! How can we sort this?
18.08.2017 @ 00:30
Not got much sympathy to be honest as they were taking part in a race, no matter how they dress it up they were racing
09.06.2018 @ 22:49
Hi Sarah that sounds horrendous what’s happened since?
04.01.2019 @ 20:25
They were going 177.5 km/h in a 100 km/h tunnel in dense traffic. They were in detention pending trial for three months (solitary, only 1h out of cell in commune area per day). One was sentenced to 13 months on probation plus fine and court fess of CHF 12000. The other two contested. Not sure what the final out come was of that.
The impounded cars were released w/o bail as they did not own them.
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/zuerich/region/erster-britischer-cannonballraser-verurteilt/story/18577231
22.01.2019 @ 12:33
Thanks for the update Charlie and the link to the article, very interesting to hear some facts about what happened!
08.07.2020 @ 16:41
“177.5 km/h in a 100 km/h tunnel in dense traffic”… WHILE ROAD RACING … and you’re surprised and horrified that they got arrested and thrown in jail? Most of the fatalities on Swiss roads are actually caused by non-swiss road racers. I’m neither surprised nor horrified, and as a non-Swiss resident I’m happy to see them in jail and off the Swiss roads.
06.06.2017 @ 09:26
Great Site, good information thanks for your efforts.
It’s also important to recognise that the Swiss have agreements with the French, Germans and Italians. So a Swiss license holder WILL receive fines from these countries and the Swiss authorities will in addition add on a processing fee and local decision on a foreign speeding incident. (Enforce foreign bans in Switzerland!!!! = WTF!)
In my case 183kmh (Autoroute) in France was 135 Euro cash point frogmarch, instant one month ban in France, Swiss license taken. (Was a couple of years ago and only applicable in France) 3 weeks later the Swiss authorities caught up and asked me for a statement in the French court. I gave no statement, the French increased the fine to 300 Euro total and increased the ban in France to 2 months
Then to add insult to injury the Swiss upheld the French ban in Switzerland for the remainder of the month. (3 days lol) Then the Swiss charged me another 300chf for processing paperwork and RECORDED these details against my Swiss driving record.
These reciprocal agreements are a pain in ass and can be “double charges” and may bite you later. Be careful! (this maybe worth including on your website which states share driving offences.
23.08.2017 @ 18:23
If you pay fines without delay and without contesting, most of the time you only get the foreign fine.
27.10.2017 @ 22:02
Hi Jonas – For driving 28kph over the limit I received a CHF 930 fine from the prosecuting authority plus CHF 298 administrative fine (withdrawing foreign drivers license). Is it possible that I only need to pay the CHF 298 fine?
19.10.2017 @ 21:41
AND that’s what pisses me off about swiss drivers in France, 53kph over the limit and you have the audacity to complain about 135eur and a 1 month ban.It was only increased because of your belligerence. I think they are absolutely correct to enforce foreign infractions as if done in the home country. It would certainly curb the Genevoise driving on the A40 like total muppets.
03.06.2022 @ 01:23
Since when can Swiss courts ban / punish you for a violation committed abroad (even out of their souvereign enforcement limits), once you have already been punished/sentenced in France? This is utterly illegal. What if the rest of the World have picked up and for a sentence of one-month-ban in one country, you would be banned in the entire World?
In the normal times in the normal World, one violation = one sentence, but “there seems to be something rotten in the Danish state”.
28.05.2017 @ 10:10
Hi
I have been caught by camera when I return from swissland to Italy there was a tunnel speed was 80 and my speed was 91 ,
Any one can help and tell me what fane will be for me please?
06.06.2017 @ 09:34
The table above is accurate, dependent on the type of camera used you will see a number of kmh knocked off the actual speed.
19.04.2017 @ 10:39
Hello,
#i received a huge fine of 647 CHF (620 Euro) after returning home to Ireland from Switzerland for only
22kmph in a tunnel which I thought was limit 100. However, aside from the hugely disporoprtionate
size of this fine, it is written in German and cannot understand the content and particularly how do I dispute/appeal.
So I emailed the contact email address provided 3 times with no reply yet (which is proactive I think) to
a) request to send me the fine in English
b) how to appeal/dispute the huge amount of this fine relative to income/means for a minor offense.
Any idea what happens now ? again I don’t have understanding of he detail as its all in German. They have used Registered Post 3 timwes to my home, the kids must wonder what this is and that annoys me.
thank you. fro any help.
09.05.2017 @ 13:19
Hi Tony, I got flashed for speeding in a 50km zone, going under a tunnel. I was doing 60km. I’ve not received anything in the post yet, but hert have told me there was an admin charge for a “traffic offence”….which actually references two days after the day I know I was flashed. DId you hear anything more with your case yet? I’m hearing paying the fines is not so easy either…….
06.06.2017 @ 09:32
Don’t even bother to dispute these fines as a Swiss resident (UK National) I can tell you if it goes to court and you haggle they will INCREASE the fine and they WILL collect it.
It’s seen as a waste of their court time and they adjust accordingly. I know no one who has won in court (lowered or removed a speeding fine) I have known people have their fines increased and court costs added on.
There is one exception a guy was speeding whilst taking his wife to hospital and was about to die whilst giving birth, it took months for them to agree to wipe the slate clean!
Pay it walk away as a lesson learned. Tunnels in Switzerland ALWAYS have cameras, drive accordingly.. 🙂
21.12.2018 @ 11:23
Ja! German is the most widely spoken language in Europe !
17.04.2017 @ 14:44
In August 2016 I was caught on camera speeding over the limit in Lauterbrunnen. I have been sent two letters from the Berne Canton police requesting if I was the driver. I understand from my local MP and other authorities that the Swiss police have no legal rights to pursue me in the Uk for the fine and according to the Swiss police web-site if I do not pay I will be stopped if I ever go back to Switzerland. I assume this is correct? I have heard stories that the Swiss try to pursue UK drivers for fines through EPO etc although they have no legal status to do so in UK courts. Since I am approaching 70 years old and suffering with leg problems I will not be going back.
23.02.2017 @ 17:19
hi
I have been to Zurich Switzerland for a short trip, went 78 km in 50 km road, wasn’t saw the camera because waze doesn’t told me about trap and the camera was the same color of the road so press the pedal at wrong spot.
that was rental car does anyone know what to expect ?
23.02.2017 @ 17:20
I live in uk
01.10.2018 @ 12:39
It is now illegal to use radar warning devices in Switzerland so waze would not offer this info in Switzerland.
12.11.2016 @ 17:00
I’ve received a letter saying I was 37kph (after 6kph adjustment) over the 80kph and the photos showing the windscreen do not clearly show who was driving (there were two of us sharing the driving) so in this instance what do the Swiss do?? We can’t even remember where or which part of the journey this was! Also if a fine is issued will involve a ban and means testing on income?
09.05.2018 @ 21:30
Hi Runner –
Have your issue was resolved? Did you have to pay thew fine? I was caught driving 29km/h in 60km/h zone. They didn’t send the fine amount…just asking who was the driver. I am a US citizen.
18.07.2019 @ 16:04
Hi TKV – I am in a similar situation as you…did you pay the fine?
01.11.2016 @ 08:35
hi, i think i been caught by the speed camera, when i traveled to Zurich 3 weeks ago, there was a time when i enter the tunnel i didnt noticed that the speed limit is only 80 km/h, as i thought it would be 100 km/h, and my speed is around 100 km/h on that time, i was shocked when i saw the flash light from the speed camera taken towards our car. so i though we might have already been caught by the speed camera.
i am a tourist that rented a car from this Avis car rental company, but when i return my car at Basel airport to the car rental company, they didnt say anything about the speed trap, so i am not so sure if i am really been caught by the speed camera. normally how long it takes for them to send over the summon (if any), and how will they reach to me, as currently i have already return to my country.
thanks
31.12.2016 @ 19:47
Hello, 4 years ago I got by mail a speeding ticket from the Swiss police. It had said that I drove 83 KPH instead of 50 KPH and I was summoned to a Swiss court (Of course I did not go back for that…). My question is when do you think I can visit again Switzerland without having the risk of being bothered by this ticket…
23.08.2017 @ 18:50
Rental company is legally obliged to ensure fine is paid. They will be sent a document where they have to provide information of who was renting, then they will try to find you and send the bill on to you.
If you don’t comply, they can try to send collection agency after you. This happened to me once for fine in Sweden while living in Switzerland…
A crime punishable by fine has statute of limitations 3 years. Your main issue if not paying will be rental company…
25.09.2018 @ 13:38
I had a similar ticket many years ago. Now it is coming back to aunt me as I will fly through their country. Are you sure about the statute of limitations being 3 years in these small fine cases?
13.10.2016 @ 20:03
Hi I have droven 153 kmh in motorway where was 120kmh limit. How much will be the fine and what else can be happen.?
30.07.2016 @ 15:39
Hi
I’ve received a speeding notice from the Swiss police and I’m just wondering if there is a time limit to which I should receive the notice? I’m sure the UK is something like 30 days limit?
Thanks for the help
25.09.2016 @ 06:22
As a tourist in Switzerland trying to figure out where your gps is telling you to go, it makes more sense to look at your road rather than having your eyes glued to your speedometer or constantly scanning the roadside looking for the speed trap radar boxes that Swiss friends assiduously slow down for momentarily as they pass by them. Exceeding the speed limit by 6 to 10 km in a situation like this is far safer than continually looking at your speedometer. And cruise control? Not helpful unless you’re on a motorway with a vonstant speed limit. The ‘moral’ issue?? A 250cf fine is extortion…that’s a moral issue. I have nany dear Swiss friends but they could bebegit from senditivity training to overcone their serious and notorious OCD problem.
24.05.2016 @ 13:14
Hi, I have two questions. I was driving in a 30km/h area, and I think I had around 45-50 km/h. There was at the end of the street a policeman with a radar. My first question is how big will be fine be? And my second question: I am not Swiss, but I was driving a swiss car registered on a company. If i receive the fine, can I specify that I was driving? I have no income in Switzerland. Thanks
21.10.2016 @ 14:56
You should expect a 250-600 CHF fine. You also need to know that in Switzerland, there is a 3-5 km/h deduction before they send the fine. For example, if you were really going 50 km/h, they will write down 45 or 47, depending on the radar used. So, in that case, it would be a 250 or 400 CHF fine.
04.05.2016 @ 18:39
I think the sliding scale table is out of date. Fines have substantially increased in Switzerland:
https://www.bussenkatalog.ch/geschwindigkeitsbussen
08.05.2016 @ 23:23
Thank you, this is good info – I will prioritize this.
Do you know the exact meaning of “Freiheitsstrafe” in this case ?
Jail?
For how long?
18.05.2017 @ 10:58
It means Jail not under one year, usually on probation. It is possible, that you will be arrested when reentering, if there are open proceedings for this kind of speeding and they cant get hold of you.
29.03.2016 @ 12:59
Hi, I received a summons for “fake license” even tho I’ve never used it and it was mailed to me thru someone who works at the service. What should I do ?
04.03.2016 @ 12:13
I got a speeding ticket from an 80 road doing 115. The tolerance was 6kmh so they charged me in terms of 29kmh over the limit. (which was nice of them).
The Swiss France value of my ticket was indeed 570chf which is approx. 520 euros right now.
27.02.2016 @ 03:06
Hi there,
I received a speeding fine in Switzerland in French and emailed asking for them to send it to me in English. They then sent this and I figured out I wasn’t driving the car in Switzerland on this day as I was working in France. I then emailed back asking for a photo so I could identify the person driving the car, which I then received. It clearly shows it wasn’t me. Do you know if there is a way to get out of having to pay but the fine?
23.08.2017 @ 18:53
Yes, you tell them who was driving…
03.09.2024 @ 09:20
What happens if you ignore a fine you got as tourist who lives in france ? They have already sent me papers saying the amount but its too high what happens if I ignore it?
25.09.2024 @ 13:35
I would google RIPOL reciprocal European traffic fine agreements between Fra/Swi. I am sure I have read that france and switzerland collect or enforce fines for each other. In any case, you would be foolish to enter Switzerland again for a many years. Perhaps ask your local french traffic enforcement about what law and regulations they have with Switzerland? if thye cant answer go one step higher and contact the french state or federal governing bodies. Someone on the French side of things must know something.
10.09.2015 @ 14:14
Hi, I might be able to help. I received a letter from my hire car company to say I had a speeding fine to pay while I was in Geneva for one day. They attached a letter only in French which said after adjustment I was found between 21 and 25km over the limit as I came off the motorway. The fine suggested I had to pay CHF 400 and there was no information on how to pay this from abroad. However there was a phone number for the Geneva police managing this (+41224275170). I called and waited for all he options to finish (all in French) and it said I could then taken to someone but never was it actually answered by a person but I could leave a message. I asked someone to call me back in English and left my overseas phone number. They repeatedly called me to respond and when I managed to answer finally I had a very helpful man talk me through what to expect and how to manage the fine. In fact, he told me, the fine was now going to be CHF600 because it was not a company car. He said if I wrote to ask for a reduction in the fine within 10 days of receiving the letter they would consider it and get back to me to tell me to send. Tax statement showing my income and they would adjust accordingly. I have yet to hear from them asking me this but although the fine is ridiculously large, I respected the way they responded to my request to help in English and for spending 15 minutes on the phone at their expense to do so.
18.08.2015 @ 07:14
Hi i got the letter from the switzerland police and i have no idea what i have to do with it.
its all written in germany and french which i have no idea what its saying.
it says “uberschereitung 39 km/h” ( was i driving +39 km/h above the speed limit in highway?)
how much do i have to pay? i really have no clue.
what should i do with the letter?
thanks for the advice.
06.09.2015 @ 14:04
According to my info (see above) you will have to pay 10 “daily fines”. A daily fine is calculated on the basis of your income and economy up to a maximum of 3000 Swiss Francs.
I really have no idea on how the Swiss police will act on this if you are a foreigner, but I understand that Swiss fines may only be recovered in Switzerrland. And it must be done within 3 years. So just stay away for this period 🙂
Does anyone know more about this?
14.01.2019 @ 11:34
Is the max of 3000 swiss franc per “daily fine” or for total?
16.01.2019 @ 13:28
Most likely its the max for a single day fine.
30.04.2022 @ 17:49
I got finde after returning after five years
27.06.2015 @ 15:31
Hi I have received a court summons for running a red light in Switzerland.
It wasn’t even red for 1second. They said 0.95s. I can’t believe I got a summons for that!
Obviously I can’t go, what is most likely going to happen? Will this affect my UK license. As you can tell I am shocked, and worried, this was an innocent “small” mistake! Anyone would have thought I killed someone.
Thank you for your advise
02.07.2015 @ 18:43
I’m sorry I can’t help you on this. I know that at least Spain has rules that specifies how many milliseconds leads to what fine/reaction but I’m not able to look this up.
17.04.2017 @ 14:59
I understand you cannot be extradited for traffic offences unless you kill someone or are involved in a serious accident. By the way what did happen-I f you don’t pay the fine you will not be able to re-enter Swiss territory again for atleast 3 years under Swiss federal law.