Swiss Motorways Wthout a Vignette

[Rotary Potato]

So today I was bit of a plonker.

Currently in Switzerland on a driving holiday. We're in my girlfriend's UK registered car.

We made a choice not to get a vignette, avoid the motorways & see the country at a slower pace.

Except today I forget to set the 'avoid tolls' option on Google Maps & got directed onto the motorway. I auto-piloted for about 30km (after the St Gotthard Pass to Bellinzona) before having a "st - we shouldn't be on here" moment and getting off.

Does anyone know how enforcement works?

Is it a case of "if you don't get tugged by the police you've got away with it"?

If we're 100% going to be getting an angry letter landing on the doormat, is there anything I can do now to mitigate it? Or do I just have to wait & see?

Any advice on likely outcomes would be helpful.

Thank you.

P.S. Not sure what the best forum to post this in was ... Mods, feel free to move it if needed.

[Voldemort]

The last time I was there the 'pass' was a sticker that you could purchase at fuel stations. They did not record your personal or car details - just gave you a sticker to put in the car window. If it's still the same then you have almost certainly got away with it.

[chalda]

Hello,

nothing will happen. There is no video surveillance or similar. Either you get pulled without a Vignette, or not.

Christian

[JagYouAre]

Years ago (like 20+) we were in Switzerland and my dad got pulled over and given a talking to for not having one. There was some confusion as he had no idea of the requirements (we hadn’t planned to be in the country and were just passing through) and there were some language barrier issues but in the end they just told him to go to the nearest place you could get one (a petrol station I think it was) and sent us on our way.

No idea if it’s the same now but from the above replies it appears so. Can’t imagine they would do anything retrospectively if you didn’t get stopped as I don’t think they’re particularly expensive.

[mr pg]

It's now electronic, no more stickers. Motorways have cameras......

[johnpsanderson]

mr pg said:

It's now electronic, no more stickers. Motorways have cameras......

This info (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/car/motorway-vignette/) from earlier this year, indicates paper stickers are still a thing. And that, if not yet stuck on, can be used ina different vehicle - indicating the paper vignettes are not linked to a specific registration.

So, as above, it looks like you’ve got away with it…

[Ezra]

You've definitely got away with it - don't worry.

[CHLEMCBC]

mr pg said:

It's now electronic, no more stickers. Motorways have cameras......

Why have you posted this?

[mr pg]

Because stickers are no longer required if applying online. You receive a confirmation email. Don't know about if you buy one in country.

[CLK-GTR]

Stickers are still a thing. If they dont catch you at the time you've got away with it. It will be either plod on the road, the Swiss like to do checkpoints for various infringements, or occasionally they'll question it at a border post.

[MDL111]

In Austria there are cameras as well as physical checks. I am not sure how it is in Switzerland.

[-Cappo-]

johnpsanderson said:

This info (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/car/motorway-vignette/) from earlier this year, indicates paper stickers are still a thing. And that, if not yet stuck on, can be used ina different vehicle - indicating the paper vignettes are not linked to a specific registration.

So, as above, it looks like you ve got away with it

In the past, it used to be an offence broadly equivalent to not having one, to have one but it not be properly stuck on the screen. If you had a suitable holder which made it look like it WAS stuck on (like those sprung clips for parking tickets), and got away with it, you could subsequently resell it on eBay eBay however caught on to this and banned that practice.

[SwissJonese]

I went last year and drove for 1 week on the motorways. I had bought the vignette sticker but when I got home I realised I stuck it too high and wasn't visible due to the black sunscreen colour on the windscreen. Zero issues from police.
Austria, it is online service, so a bit different as they do use anpr cameras.