Maybe.

But it is only Americans who go on about "doo prahssess".

1. scrambled talks about 'due process'
2. DB makes some comment implying scrambled is ignorant american who knows nothing about non-american stuff
3. scrambled helpfully points out to DB that 'due process' was first made law in DB's own country in fact

that's why you're still stuck on the dusty paper.

moving on, so you are saying that switzerland does not recognize the concept of due process (in any language)? i find that a patently ridiculous claim, as this is among the most basic of rights.

In all honesty they wouldn't do it with a local, but for reasons other than xenophobia. AFAIK border cops normally have special detention rights/impound rights because people can just leave and never come back. If, for example, I had my passport but not my Ausweis/proof of living in Switzerland I would expect to be detained until my fine was paid. That's only fair really otherwise I might go back to Moldova or Bristol and not pay up.

In the UK Parliament (Commons), debaters address the Speaker rather than each other because it is deemed to be less aggressive and less of a chance of being interpreted as an ad hominem argument. Argue the point, not the man. Please.

I implied no such thing, but if the cap fits...

wrong again, the people who care are the ones who dont sit idly while the government walks all over them

My daughter brought 3kg of smoked meat back from Canada and declared it as meat, but the customs person was smart enough to realize that 0,5 kg is for fresh meat, and smoked meat is processed and thus falls within the 3,5 kg limit, and thus no problem.

Not the case when she brought me a bunch of motorcycle parts last year (and had the receipts), but forgot to declare them and then had to pat VAT + 2x fine (I told her to ALWAYS declare, much cheaper and safer).

Tom

Like I said: you're American, aren't you?

This theoretical stuff still matters to you chaps, apparently.

fair enough, but the OP is from Basel

From or lives in Basel?

And if he could prove it at the time, I stand correctly. I know I have been in a similar situation:

I was driving a rental car over the Schaffhausen border and back when I was stopped. My rental paperwork was out of date because I rented it past the term I had booked it for. I do this regularly, Europcar doesn't mind because they just charge my card they have on file based on how long I've rented/fuel used etc etc. However I was driving illegally (the car was technically stolen at that point) and it was a Sunday so I had to stick around in the border guard office for 5 hours until Europcar USA opened up in the State and I was able to make my rental extension official. They were very helpful (the border lot) but there are extenuating circumstances on borders where I feel they have more justification to impound/detain. Nothing to do with taking money out of a wallet though.

Just checked - the maximum is actually 5x plus the duty. And the 5x can be increased by 50% in certain circumstances. Although I believe they apply this on a sliding scale depending on severity. And yes (again) it HAS to be paid.

Customs can search you however they want (including with rubber gloves in necessary). Hence they are quite entitled to search your wallet and if they find you've been lying about having money they are quite within their powers to extract the fine from you. Nothing special about Switzerland here, pretty well all are the same.

That is your opinion, it freaking annoyed me that he was searching my wallet when I was looking for the stuff myself!

Dont know about you guys but for me, there is a difference between having/exercising the right to search someone and treating them with dignity whilst exercising that right.

So you lied about not having money!

Sorry, but having money 'put aside' is not the same as not having money.

So, from his point of view, you said that you didn't have the money, but you did.

You are lucky he didn't arrest you.

Tom

Indeed. The only times (2) that my wallet has been searched, they asked for permission to do so (once at the German/French border, back when there was a border, another time in Zurich).

Tom

So it's illegal to lie about not having money now

I was actually suprised when a customs lady officer asked me to open trunk and then just went through bags, opening side pockets and getting receipts out bags. Without asking my permission. There was nothing of interest for her and she handled me our documents and said to go on.

I felt very intrusive.

irrelevant, unless you believe swiss law draws a distinction between residency and citizenship when it comes to basic civil rights.

if that's the best you've got, i will claim victory and bid you good evening.

Yeah. You go back and pore over your books of English Common Law.

They're sure to help you next time you encounter a problem with Swiss law enforcement authorities...