once the question came up what happens if you dont have valid ticket or arent with your (personalized) ZVV pass on a train/tram/bus, how do get over the 80/120/150 chf fine.

yesterday i was caught with no valid ZVV pass which i forgot to buy for this month. i knew that with a personalized pass (halbtax card number as you know) the SBB charges 5chf service fee.

so i went directly to the ticket machine, bought the pass with starting day for the actual day and went straight to the SBB counter. the ZVV pass has no timestamp on it, so the guy could not see that i was caught 7:15 and arrive 7:45 with a pass bought 7:30 at his desk.

i paid 5 chf and that was it...