Swiss fines

[Budflicker]

I was involved in a road traffic accident in Switzerland in July, I attended the police station and gave a statement and was released with no bail or charges.

Then recently i have received two separate fines and a 3 month ban in Switzerland effective from the 1st January 2016.

As Understand it i could pay the fines online and hope that's the end of it or I could just ignore it all and never go back to Switzerland again?

Two Questions really, am I correct in thinking the above or will the Swiss be able to pursue me in the UK?

Second question, if i don't pay but do return to Switzerland and get pulled over will the fine be increased or would i just have to pay the original amount before being able to go on my way?

[jesta1865]

ianal but i doubt the swiss could do much unless you went back there, they do have agreements with the eu over observing some of the rules and practices of the eu but aren't part of it, so i suspect less information sharing with eu countries.

having said that, what a mate who works out their says about them, if you ever go back, expect to sever a leg at the roadside as a fine.

[speedking31]

Are the fines related to the accident? How come you have not been given the opportunity to state a defence? Did you plead guilty to something at the time?

[Riley Blue]

IANAL but authorities in some countries within the Schengen area (Switzerland is one of them) sell fines to baliffs in other countries for collection - how lucky do you feel?

[Whitean3]

Budflicker said:

If i don't pay but do return to Switzerland and get pulled over will the fine be increased or would i just have to pay the original amount before being able to go on my way?

You'll get stopped at the border and likely arrested (depending on the amount owed). Fine will include interest plus extras. It will be a Biiig fine.
I think you are unlikely to be chased for payment, but things do change.

I'm guessing it's quite a large fine, attributed to dangerous or careless driving, or is a bill for repairs to roadside furniture

[Budflicker]

Whitean3 said:

You'll get stopped at the border and likely arrested (depending on the amount owed). Fine will include interest plus extras. It will be a Biiig fine.
I think you are unlikely to be chased for payment, but things do change.

I'm guessing it's quite a large fine, attributed to dangerous or careless driving, or is a bill for repairs to roadside furniture

I received a letter in German explaining a 3 month ban, then another letter with a 1460 swiss franc fine for careless driving, then a second fine for 200 francs for costs for the ban?

So about £1100 GPB in fines.

[bad company]

Budflicker said:

I received a letter in German explaining a 3 month ban, then another letter with a 1460 swiss franc fine for careless driving, then a second fine for 200 francs for costs for the ban?

So about £1100 GPB in fines.

For that sum of money I would be inclined to ignore & if necessary deny receipt of the letter later.

Edited by bad company on Tuesday 20th October 14:57

[btcc123]

Switzerland is not an EU country or a member of the European Economic Area (EEA)so I cannot see they can do anything regarding collecting the fine.The ban they gave you will probably have run out by the time you return to Switzerland and if you do change your car and move to a different address and you should be ok.

[btcc123]

I expect your fine was smaller than this OP.


A speeding Swedish driver is facing the world‘s biggest ever motoring fine of 650,000 euros - around £538,000 - after being clocked at 180mph while driving through Switzerland.
The 37-year-old man‘s £140,000 Mercedes SLS AMG was impounded along with his driving licence after soaring along at two and-a-half times the speed limit on a Swiss motorway.
'We have no record of anyone being caught travelling faster in the country,' said a police spokesman.

[Dog Star]

Budflicker said:

I received a letter in German explaining a 3 month ban, then another letter with a 1460 swiss franc fine for careless driving, then a second fine for 200 francs for costs for the ban?

So about £1100 GPB in fines.

Stuff that. Lob it in the bin and forget about it.

(Doubtless someone will be along soon to tell you to "pay your dues" and "take it like a man" etc etc)

[Vaud]

Erm, the Swiss have long memories. They will have your passport details?

On entry they have a border that might be doing random checks. Depends on many variables. So there is a chance you will be stopped. If you aren't stopped there, then if you are stopped for other reasons, it will stand - they may detain you until the fine is paid.

The fine will accrue interest.

http://zurichexpats.com/speeding-in-switzerland-th...

If you want local advice (I haven't lived there for a few years) then create an account here and ask around...

http://www.englishforum.ch/forum.php

My prior experience is that if you ever want to return, pay.

[Robert Elise]

If you fly in from uk there is always a passport check.
Even if you don't visit ch, remember that Geneva is a popular airport for the French surrounding area.
The above comments aren't just internet scare stories, the Swiss do keep records long term.
I also know for a fact they cooperate with the French on such matters, whether that's an individual agreement or EU or Schengen I don't know.

[williaa68]

The actual enforcement process will depend on the canton that the offense was committed in but I think you would be unwise to assume they won't pursue in the UK for that amount. I think it is likely that they will - as Vaud notes they have long memories and are extremely efficient. Once you have a judgment against you it IS enforceable in the UK, you are just relying on them not doing so. Personally I'd pay up.....

[anonymous-user]

williaa68 said:

The actual enforcement process will depend on the canton that the offense was committed in but I think you would be unwise to assume they won't pursue in the UK for that amount. I think it is likely that they will - as Vaud notes they have long memories and are extremely efficient. Once you have a judgment against you it IS enforceable in the UK, you are just relying on them not doing so. Personally I'd pay up.....

More officious than efficient in my experience, not necessarily related to motoring, I add.

I find Switzerland an easy country to do without, so if the OP can do the same he might ignore the fines. The least he should do is ascertain why he's been fined.

[Vaud]

REALIST123 said:

More officious than efficient in my experience, not necessarily related to motoring, I add.

I find Switzerland an easy country to do without, so if the OP can do the same he might ignore the fines. The least he should do is ascertain why he's been fined.

You mean like his posting half way up?

Budflicker said:

I received a letter in German explaining a 3 month ban, then another letter with a 1460 swiss franc fine for careless driving, then a second fine for 200 francs for costs for the ban?

So about £1100 GPB in fines.

[Du1point8]

REALIST123 said:

williaa68 said:

The actual enforcement process will depend on the canton that the offense was committed in but I think you would be unwise to assume they won't pursue in the UK for that amount. I think it is likely that they will - as Vaud notes they have long memories and are extremely efficient. Once you have a judgment against you it IS enforceable in the UK, you are just relying on them not doing so. Personally I'd pay up.....

More officious than efficient in my experience, not necessarily related to motoring, I add.

I find Switzerland an easy country to do without, so if the OP can do the same he might ignore the fines. The least he should do is ascertain why he's been fined.

I wonder how long it will be before Swiss join the EU ability to chase people in the UK to speed in EU from 2017... I also wonder if they are going to back date all the fines and some people are going to get a nasty shock with interest in 2 years time.

[JMGS4]

I'd advise you to pay it! The Swiss have VERY long memories and will NOT let it lie. You might have to fly through a Swiss airport in the future, they don't feck about, you'd be arrested and held until the fine (and the interest and costs on the fine) is paid. I had a customer here in Germany who got a parking ticket in Basel in the early 80s for SFR 30,-. When flying through Basel airport 14 YEARS later, he was arrested and had to pay fines, interest and costs of over SFR 1000,-.
I've been caught, unknowingly, in a speed trap, and was pulled at the border when leaving CH 4 years later. My SFR 50,- fine had gone up to 220,- BE WARNED!!!

[Budflicker]

Having given it some thought and consideration I have come to the conclusion that I like going on driving holidays in Switzerland and I have always told my wife I'm going to take her up the Stelvio Pass so with that in mind I have paid the fines which came to £1150.00 in total, nice.

[oblio]

I did the Stelvio going from Austria to Italy. No need to go via CH...

...mind you it is a lovely place (CH that is)

[Mr2Mike]

Budflicker said:

I have always told my wife I'm going to take her up the Stelvio Pass

Definitely a worthwhile experience, almost as good as taking her up the Oxo tower to be fair.