Wednesday, August 18, 2010

In defence of Switzerland

This isn't a blog about the Swiss Military.... instead I feel compelled to defend my Swiss friends who came in for the normal stereotypical rhetoric from the Brits after sending out a record speeding fine of around $1M last week. To accompany the report was a "Have your say" forum discussing whether speeding fines should be based on wealth.

Amongst the various obvious comments regarding cuckoo clocks, watches, chocolates and car hating country, were some very wrong assumptions about the speeding fine system in Switzerland. Note: There was also the usual cyclist bashing comment from motorists (don't get me started). So I would like to make some corrections (based also on experience):

1/ There are no license points "awarded" for speeding in Switzerland.... this allows minor offences to be fined without jeopardising mobility;

2/ Fines don't start at 1KPH over the limit. Actually, the police always knock 5KPH off the measured speed;

3/ Fines are on a sliding scale, generally starting at CHF40 for 1KPH;

4/ Wealth based fines only start when you exceed the speed limit by 30KPH in town, 35KPH out of town and 40KPH on motorways;

5/ You will loose your license for at least one month if you exceed the speed limit by 20, 25 or 30KPH respectively.

For further clarification check ot the Basel Police Fine table which applies for most Swiss Cantons. Really, I think the system is quite fair.

Now I can get off my soap-box for today :-)

1 comment:

Lollo said...

Well said, Steve!
You're the expert it seems, you know that stuff better than I do as an Aboriginal Swiss. Wonder why, though... ;-)
And thanks for saving our reputation, at least in this respect (we won't start on all the other topics like banks, Deepwater Horizon, etc.).
We need some unbiased support in these times! ;-)
Lorenz