Speeding fine in Switzerland - Help please !

[Littlefrenchmummy]

Hello ! My BIL has just asked for my help (as I speak French) after he was fined for speeding in Switzerland. it is a little bit unfair as he was just coming out of the airport with his rental car, trying to get his head around driving on the right hand side, and he drove at 60 instead of 40 on a road that is usually 60 but had been limited for road works and it was badly indicated. Anyway this isn't really relevant .. The problem I have is that the fine is 600 euros, so about £450. It is so expensive.. I have called and asked if there was something I could do to make it less expensive so they suggested writing explaining the situation. However I have just seen online that fines in Switzerland are based on salary?? Im confused, does anyone know how this works? Can anyone advise me please ? Thank you so much x

Hi - I have a family member who lives in Switzerland. I'll text him and get back to you with his advice

Here is what he has come back with:

"Fines here are not based on salary. There is a relatively new initiative called “Via Sicura” to make the roads safer and they have increased fines considerably. However, I am surprised at CHF 600 for 20km/h over the limit. I would have expected CHF 150-200 for that."

He is also worried that it might be a scam. When you spoke to them did they have a record of this demand (you must have quoted a case number to them?). Is it in Euros or Swiss Francs? Switzerland is not in the EU so doesn't use Euros.

If you would like to scan and email it to me to send over there for further investigation then PM me for contact details.

I would investigate, this was a common scam in Italy a few years ago - they get hire car info and then claim you sped on day car collected/returned near airport...

Sorry but you get caught you pay. Appealing won't work as presumably they have you on camera. It does seem an excessive amount though. when we lived there it worked on a fixed penalty according t how much over you were. I got an on the spot fine for pulling out of a turning without coming to a complete stop even though road was clear.

The fine should be in Swiss francs not euro, though I guess the hire car company might be quoting it in euro; though he should have been sent the speeding fine letter itself which should make it clear.

600 CHF is just under that in euro.

He can write to appeal, but the Swiss hate speeding and are notorious for being hard on it so I wouldn't hold out much hope.

Hi @whoreandpeace Thanks so much for asking your family member that is so helpful of you. it is in swiss franc and i do have a reference number. Sorry i said Euro as its more or less the same thing money wise. The claim came through the hiring car company (who also charge £50 for the fine obviously). I will scan and send it to you thank you! Would you mind PM me your email address and I can get my BIL to forwarded it to you? @hettyD thanks for the heads up. @LIZS I agree with you but my BIL doesn't have much money and it will be such a big hit for him. You speed you pay yes, but nearly 500£ given the circumstances is worth trying to get some clemency. @PatriciaHolm thank you very much for your advice.

Have just PMd you, LFM