Safe Speed Forums

One night last week I was driving down a country road and got flashed (in the face!) by a mobile camera carefully mounted behind a grass verge.

I was doing about 100km/h, maybe a bit below, in an 80 area. The thing is I was driving my mum's Swiss car which is registered in her name.

A couple of questions, if I may, just in case anyone knows about the Swiss laws.

No doubt they'll send a letter to my mum. Is there an option to name the driver or will she just have to pay up?

If she can name the driver (me) and gives my name and address (in the UK) will the Swiss police then contact me for payment?

Since I was flashed as I drove towards the camera I assume they'll have a picture of me driving so she shouldn't have to pay, right?

What is the likely fine going to be? If I get a bill and don't pay will I face problems entering Switzerland in the future?

I know this isn't really a good place to ask all these questions so if anyone can point me to a better place, please do! Thanks!!

It entirely depends on the system used in Switzerland, some places automatically fine the RK (I think the USA does this), or it might be similar to the UK.

Either way, if as a result of either not replying to paperwork or not paying a fine you end up with an arrest warrant you *could* be arrested on entering the country. It certainly happens in the US, not sure about Switzerland.

Gareth

Speeding fines in Switzerland are huge compared to ours - probably 200-300 quid for that.

Ja - ist based on income... ist why we live over here

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They have reciprocal points und fines with France - but not with anyone else as far as aware - not even with Germany...

But if you hire car with credit card - they apply to credit card company via the hire company for the fine.

Have never heard of anyone being arrested on entering theSwiss Alps for not paying their fine.

_________________
Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

Entschuldigung - had not read the OP!




She will get buff coloured envelope requesting her to report to police station where she will be show evidence und the the speed calculations as ist usually means tested und pay on spot fine if routine und not too serious.



Usually they fine on spot if they can... they may well send a request for payment - und in your case with the relative - ist possible as they knwo you are likely to return to country at some time to visit.

Since I was flashed as I drove towards the camera I assume they'll have a picture of me driving so she shouldn't have to pay, right?



Ist means tested - but as foreigner ist more likely you get lowest band of fine - which ist about £100 -£110 plus bank charge of £25.



Have not heard of problems - but they will keep on record und it accrues interest charges - so perhaps better to cough up


Papa ist Swiss und I was brought up there..... Appenzell. Where does your Mama live?

_________________
Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

At least all of this explains why driving through Switzerland last summer 99.99 per cent of drivers, foreigners included, stuck to all speed limits at all times. The exceptions were so rare as to be extremely noticeable.

Having said that I never saw any speed cameras although I believe they have them in tunnels?

and despite this the UK still has by far the safest roads in Europe...

Didn't Clarkson mention on Top Gear that the police won't bat an eyelid if you've got an automatic weapon sitting on your passenger seat but they'll shoot you if you go 1km/h over the limit?

Ist just 3 mph tolerance across range of speed limits und they hide them in wheely bins. It makes bin emptying day high entertainment value

Und the one which got vandalised the most und ist most memorable we saw? On way to Luzern.. Scheewittchen und Zwerge - lens hidden in boobies - she did not last long... think there was an entire new twist to the the apple sticking in her throat... I think someone place apple on head und was on target

Und ja - we do have them in tunnels -= sppeding in the tunnels is severest und ist sensible to ensure compliance to limits und CCTV cams will nab taligating in tunnels as well.


But Swiss have accidents despite this und despite specialised road surface designed to maximise tyre grip ...they may have compliance to speed limits - but ist significant that they appear to have more incidents than here overall . Ist also significant that the Zurich, Lausanne, Berne, Basil report more incidents - to me - significantly - around the needle park areas.....

_________________
Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

Thanks for the replies everyone. So not much to look forward to then, however I am self employed and made a loss last year and my mum doesn't work so hopefully the fine won't be too high.

You know, I wouldn't be so upset if I'd been caught speeding past a school or something, but I'd driven through the village at the legal limit (and even a bit below at times) and only sped up once I was out in the country side (and then I was just cruising at the UK type rural speeds out of habit) in the middle on now where and with only one car in front of me in the distance. But I guess that's them best place for the Swiss police to earn a bit of extra money.

I thought someone might be interested to the know what's happened so far...

My mum got a fine in the post today as expect. I was doing 98km/h in an 80 km/h area. They had a leeway of 5km/h. The fine is 160CHF. They stated that they have a photo of the driver and if the wrong driver is named (which it is since I was driving my mum's car) there is another procedure. My dad said he'd find out what the other procedure is and then decide if it would be just easier to pay the fine. Personally I'd like him to tell them I was driving and give them my UK address.

Another bit of bad news, my dad got flashed in his car 2 days after my incident. He's eagerly awaiting for his letter now. I expect his will be a bit more expensive.

I used to think the UK was bad but after speaking with my friends in Switzerland, I found out pretty much all of them have been fined for speeding within the last couple of years.

I've yet to get a ticket in the UK and I've been driving here for 8 years but I guess it's just a matter of time.