Speeding in switzerland
Speeding in switzerland
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MathewHobbs

Original Poster:

6 posts

I was flashed by a fixed camera over a year ago in my own car. Just received a letter from Swiss police wanting information to prosecute. 25kmph over limit! Anyone know of anyone who can help or give advice?

RedWhiteMonkey

7,893 posts

198 months

MathewHobbs said:
I was flashed by a fixed camera over a year ago in my own car. Just received a letter from Swiss police wanting information to prosecute. 25kmph over limit! Anyone know of anyone who can help or give advice?
What help are you looking for? Personally, if you ever want to go back to Switzerland again I would just pay up.

The Swiss are notoriously tough on speeding, there is a reason why you rarely see any Swiss driver breaking the speed limit in Switzerland.

Hoobbster77

Original Poster:

6 posts

Don’t know the fine yet, they want to details to pass to court as 25kmph is considered bad! Just legal advice I guess. Cheers

ashenfie

1,528 posts

62 months

You have not said how much the fine is, this will vary depending on the type of road you committed the offence. Further it also depends on whether you intend on returning.

K50 DEL

9,528 posts

244 months

Assuming from this thread that Switzerland can join Spain as another country where the DVLA will send information to assist prosecution.
Useful to know as the Swiss are so draconian.

malaccamax

1,439 posts

247 months

one piece of advice for when you pay: don't forget to add in the cost of the banking charges! If you fall short they'll send you the fine again (yes I was that idiot).

Hoobbster77

Original Poster:

6 posts

ashenfie said:
You have not said how much the fine is, this will vary depending on the type of road you committed the offence. Further it also depends on whether you intend on returning.
They’ve not said in the letter- it was 25 over in a 30! Speed signs were confusing at the site, but sure that won’t matter. Don’t mind paying a sensible fine but want to check what the do with the info. And given it’s more than a year ago, if any mitigation

Puddenchucker

4,971 posts

234 months

RedWhiteMonkey

7,893 posts

198 months

Hoobbster77 said:
They ve not said in the letter- it was 25 over in a 30! Speed signs were confusing at the site, but sure that won t matter. Don t mind paying a sensible fine but want to check what the do with the info. And given it s more than a year ago, if any mitigation
So almost twice the speed limit? Good luck finding any mitigation for that one.

A 30 speed limit is presumably a built-up area, I think 25 over the speed limit in a built up area is a court summons. What that means if you are not resident I don't know.

Was it your own car or a hire car?

Far Cough

2,438 posts

184 months

You have 2 options.

1. Engage fully and pay your dues - the matter will go away and you will be hung drawn and quartered in your absence.
2. Completely ignore and don't engage. They only have the keeper details and not the drivers details and no date of birth to add to the record to tie the offence to a singular person - you'll get a few threatening letters but that is all. Don't return to Switzerland with that numberplate.

I have experience of both . Last year a friend got stopped and they searched his plate and dragged up a fine from 2 years previous. It was a private plate on the same car so he had a job to deny it was him. From that they got his date of birth which they created a Swiss virtual driving licence for him. Fined on the spot (not cheap) and he is now on a 6 month ban despite not being anywhere near the place. Gotta love the Swiss -They treat speeding like you are a war criminal.
Also have mates who have received requests to identify the driver which have been binned and nothing more follows.

You make your choice and take your chances.

Dog Star

16,999 posts

184 months

I’d be going with point 2 above - 25 over in a 30 is going to be a fine potentially in the thousands I suspect.


Hoobbster77

Original Poster:

6 posts

RedWhiteMonkey said:
Hoobbster77 said:
They ve not said in the letter- it was 25 over in a 30! Speed signs were confusing at the site, but sure that won t matter. Don t mind paying a sensible fine but want to check what the do with the info. And given it s more than a year ago, if any mitigation
So almost twice the speed limit? Good luck finding any mitigation for that one.

A 30 speed limit is presumably a built-up area, I think 25 over the speed limit in a built up area is a court summons. What that means if you are not resident I don't know.

Was it your own car or a hire car?
Own car- yes built up area. And yes the letter indicates a court matter

Purosangue

1,448 posts

29 months

Far Cough said:
You have 2 options.

1. Engage fully and pay your dues - the matter will go away and you will be hung drawn and quartered in your absence.
2. Completely ignore and don't engage. They only have the keeper details and not the drivers details and no date of birth to add to the record to tie the offence to a singular person - you'll get a few threatening letters but that is all. Don't return to Switzerland with that numberplate.

I have experience of both . Last year a friend got stopped and they searched his plate and dragged up a fine from 2 years previous. It was a private plate on the same car so he had a job to deny it was him. From that they got his date of birth which they created a Swiss virtual driving licence for him. Fined on the spot (not cheap) and he is now on a 6 month ban despite not being anywhere near the place. Gotta love the Swiss -They treat speeding like you are a war criminal.
Also have mates who have received requests to identify the driver which have been binned and nothing more follows.

You make your choice and take your chances.
This 1 just ignore as posted don't return in the same car . They can do nothing to identify the driver as long as you don't play ball as soon as you supply information then they can issue summons etc. Definitely that speed is a Summons.

Pre Brexit I Drove across Germany on the autobahn , In a Mercedes about 140 mph . I think unrestricted near Frankfurt . A Porsche cam up very fast and overtook . then suddenly put the anchors on . I didn't and got two flashes .

About two weeks later a letter came from the German Police with a grainy photo of the passenger . I sent it back asking for a photo of the driver so i could identify them ...Heard nothing back

RedWhiteMonkey

7,893 posts

198 months

Hoobbster77 said:
Own car- yes built up area. And yes the letter indicates a court matter
Then, I guess it is as suggested above. Either ignore it and never go back to Switzerland or put your big boy pants on and face the consequences.

kiethton

14,265 posts

196 months

Yeah, bin the letter and change the plate on the car before you go back.

Not Swiss but I had a few arrive in 2020/21 for infringements in Germany (small over), Croatia (big over) and for refusing to pay a Vignette fine in Slovenia. All were just a single letter and nothing more came of it.

LotusOmega375D

8,818 posts

169 months

Purosangue said:
Pre Brexit I Drove across Germany on the autobahn , In a Mercedes about 140 mph . I think unrestricted near Frankfurt . A Porsche cam up very fast and overtook . then suddenly put the anchors on . I didn't and got two flashes .

About two weeks later a letter came from the German Police with a grainy photo of the passenger . I sent it back asking for a photo of the driver so i could identify them ...Heard nothing back
Is that just because they are configured to snap the face of the driver in an LHD car?

Weekendrebuild

1,061 posts

79 months

Ignore don't play ball the Minute you respond your admitting guilt. Just don't go back with that car.
Exactly why you should always use a false reg biglaugh

Purosangue

1,448 posts

29 months

LotusOmega375D said:
Purosangue said:
Pre Brexit I Drove across Germany on the autobahn , In a Mercedes about 140 mph . I think unrestricted near Frankfurt . A Porsche cam up very fast and overtook . then suddenly put the anchors on . I didn't and got two flashes .

About two weeks later a letter came from the German Police with a grainy photo of the passenger . I sent it back asking for a photo of the driver so i could identify them ...Heard nothing back
Is that just because they are configured to snap the face of the driver in an LHD car?
I think that's the case in Germany cameras take photos expecting it to be a LHD vehicle so our front seat passenger

I went on Pepepoo , they recommended Requesting a photo of the driver , which would be the RHD side . They never replied .This was 10 years ago now ,

vaud

55,303 posts

171 months

A friend who lives in Switzerland thinks:

Speed over limit ~+25 km/h = Court summons

Expected fine. ≥ CHF 400 (likely CHF 400–1 000+, income‑based)

Additional court/procedure fees CHF 600–1 200+

License suspension (Swiss virtual licence, not UK) -
Minimum 3 months

Hoobbster77

Original Poster:

6 posts

Thank you, very helpful