Don't speed in Switzerland

Don't speed in Switzerland.

Cut and past from here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific/409719-do-not-speed-switzerland.html

you may have heard about the strict swiss laws on speeding, but you need to know just how bad it can get..... my case is specific to people living here, but it can be applied in a lesser format to non-residents as well. last year i was out in the f40 on a lonely secondary road on a beautiful sunny august afternoon. i was the only car on the road for miles, until i came upon a bmw z3 out for a leisurely drive. the speed limit at that point was 80km/h, and the bmw was doing about 65. the road was winding so my opportunity to pass him was fleeting. i gunned it, the turbos spooled up, and i got shot out of the cannon. i passed him, and then slowed back down in time to enter the next village about 1 km down the road at 50km/h. however, at the highest speed moment of my pass, i was flashed by a speed camera (think they planned that positioning?) doing 130km/h. those of you have driven an f40 know that when you press the accelerator nothing happens for a moment, and then it lights up - and you cannot simply slam on the brakes right after you pass somebody either. very unfortunately for me, the cops were on the spot (as opposed to contacting me later), and stopped me. i had forgotten to bring my uk driver's license (this car has british plates and spends part of the year there), and had to show them my swiss license. the big problem became that extra 1km/h making the infringement 50km/h over the limit. keep in mind that i have had my swiss license for nearly 30 years. i have never had a speeding ticket, or anything to affect my license in that entire time. long story short, 9 months later, between legal fees and the fine, i have paid more than $10k, and have lost my license for a period of 4 months. my lawyer is a friend of mine that i go tracking with (porsche gt3) and knows the system or it would have been far worse. i am cognizant of my infraction, and am not complaining about the penalty - taking it in stride. but posting it here as a warning to all those who like to drive in europe. the lesson here is that if you are thinking of doing some kind of 'top gear' trek through switzerland's best roads etc, dont bother. the swiss have become completely obsessed with speed infractions. luckily for me, my infringement was last year because this year the laws have become even more strict; the fines have doubled, they are still indexed to income but moreso, and now they hand out minimum required jail sentences. imagine that in the canton of valais, the penalties for speeding are greater than for drunk driving - who thought that brilliant idea up? in bern last month, a cop was flashed by a speed camera while in pursuit of another car - the result was the policeman was fined and almost had his license revoked. he explained the situation and was rebuffed - now the chief of police said they will no longer pursue wrong doers past speed cameras. they are even debating whether or not to fine ambulances.....somewhere somebody has lost his mind. so once again, do NOT bother travelling by car in switzerland unless you plan to stay below the speed limit at all times, including passing (in other words traffic is going to be heavy since you cannot get up enough speed to pass somebody going slightly slower than the limit).

Isn't Switzerland one of those countries where fines are based on your income? If so you can see how an F40 owner racked up those fines.

Edit: Oh, I see he addressed that point...yeah, watch out.

Hmmm, if it were my town that speed camera would be accidentally run over by a Mack truck, but not a speeding one

In reply to GameboyRMH:

Yeah, I believe that, in the excerpt where he says the fines are "indexed to income," that's what he means.

Also read on. Punishment for speeding is greater than: - if you are caught burgling a house
- if you are caught stealing a car
- if you are caught shoplifting
- if you mug somebody
- if you are caught dealing heroine

Nuts, just nuts! although someone had the humor to add about Swiss jails: "but how bad can a Swiss prison possibly be? I imagine a resort-like place, host to jay walkers and expectorating vagrants; people who've put recyclables in non-recycling bins and a few people who might've resorted to profanity in the heat of a pub discussion. "

I gotta say though, if fines are supposed to be a deterrent and not just a revenue stream then they HAVE to be indexed to income.

When I was making Captain's pay in the Army and I was in the US on leave I used to speed everywhere. At $80 or $100 a pop I just didn't care if I got a ticket. I could spend more than that on a night out. The fine was not painful enough to be a deterrent. If I thought that way, I'm sure genuinely wealthy people have come to the same conclusion.

I've always wanted to buzz a speed camera with an airplane. Now I know where to do it with my mythical F-16 after I win the MegaBall...

Stelvio pass is right across the border from Switzerland. If I lived in switzerland, I'd be vacationing in Italy. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=stelvio+pass&hnear=Stelvio+Pass&gl=us&t=h&z=15

I know if I was a rich guy with a supercar and got nothing but 3-digit fines for speeding I'd probably hook the police department up with my credit card number and go to town.

Aaaaaaannnnd... yet another reason to stay right here in the ol' Great Satan.

I know in state of Viginia' not using your turn signal is a felony. I felt bad for this servicemember, the cop really threw the book at him: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VCDrnjJ-V1w Remember, the tint fine is per window and he presumably had 4 windows tinted!

ShadowSix wrote: I gotta say though, if fines are supposed to be a deterrent and not just a revenue stream then they HAVE to be indexed to income. When I was making Captain's pay in the Army and I was in the US on leave I used to speed everywhere. At $80 or $100 a pop I just didn't care if I got a ticket. I could spend more than that on a night out. The fine was not painful enough to be a deterrent. If I thought that way, I'm sure genuinely wealthy people have come to the same conclusion.

Yep... what would he care if the fine was $100 and 0 points like a speed camera ticket in the US? It wouldn't even be a penalty.

In reply to dculberson:

Lawyers are telling people not to pay for the speed/light tickets. It goes to the state Supreme Court in MO from what I've heard. Until then, no warrants shall be issued. No credit to be reffected. I really doubt it will pass. Can't imagine how much of my tax money went into those.

No need to go to Switzerland when you can get the same penalty in Ontario. 50kph over is a minimum $10,000 fine for "stunt driving", also a license suspension.

50km/h over is a maximum fine of $10000 in Ontario, and hard to do accidentally. I don't really have a problem with it, to be honest. 7 day immediate impoundment of vehicle and loss of license.

How bad could a Swiss prison be? I might would do the time.