I got a speeding ticket back in july 2007. The speeding was done in March 2005, but didnīt get the ticket until 2007. It was in French which I donīt speak at all, so I wrote back to them in english asking for details and documentation (picture). 6 months later I received a new letter with the original fine (300 CHF I think) and an additional fee of 30 CHF. Again I wrote them asking for documentation and for ways for me to pay the fine (lived in Denmark at the time) but still no answer or nothing. A friendly Danish lady living in CH working for a laywer called me a year later saying that if I didnīt pay the fine would be converted into jail sentence. Once again I contacted the authorities and the Danish Embassy but still no documentation or ways of paying it.
Now we are moving to Switzerland and once again I contacted the embassy asking what to do. They apparently have access to some "criminal records" of speeding violators, but my name wasnīt in there and the embassy double checked to make sure.
Iīve been to Switzerland a few times since and have never been approached/arrested by authorities when showing passport or renting cars.
Guess my questions is: Is there an expiration date or something on fines?? I mean I have done everything I could, but no "luck" (response)
Could I one day out of the blue get arrested for a speeding ticket from 2005??
Fred
I'm a bit confused as you seem to have wanted to challenge the fine by asking for more details and at the same time ask how to pay it. It seems odd you should have received a fine with absolutely no indication of how to pay.
I got a fine for speeding in Australia. I was there on the date quoted, but frankly have no idea if I was f doing 58 in a 50 limit. But I paid it as I want to go there again.
It is possible that your fine is still on record, but quite likely that the autorities have written off a 2005 item. But why risk it??
It usually works the other way around. Like that little slip of paper you fill in when you book into a hotel with your name, address etc on it. The police collect them daily and check against their database looking for outstanding fines, criminals etc.
everything you needed was on the slip, iban, bank account number, amount etc etc, every letter they send you also costs you, they also charge you for trying to trace you, so your bill could be quite eye watering by now
OK, I GET IT!!!!!
Should have paid the fine back then, but I didnīt! No documentation, no payment. Thatīs how it works in Denmark.
But the question isnīt what I SHOULD have done, the question is what do I do now?? Who do I call/write? I want to settle this asap, but the embassy couldnīt help me and my German is crap, so who do I call/write?????
From Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police:
How are foreign motorists who do not pay their fine punished on re-entering Switzerland?
Under federal legislation, the details of the person are entered into the RIPOL database if the fine has not been paid and has subsequently been commuted into a prison sentence. This measure encourages people who wish to re-enter to pay their fine. Fines imposed by the Swiss authorities can be enforced on Swiss territory for a period of three years.
Seems Iīm off the hook and it explains why they couldnīt find me in the RIPOL database.
I'm a bit confused as you seem to have wanted to challenge the fine by asking for more details and at the same time ask how to pay it. It seems odd you should have received a fine with absolutely no indication of how to pay.
I got a fine for speeding in Australia. I was there on the date quoted, but frankly have no idea if I was f doing 58 in a 50 limit. But I paid it as I want to go there again.
It is possible that your fine is still on record, but quite likely that the autorities have written off a 2005 item. But why risk it??
I did challenge it and they never sent any documentation, so I decided not to pay it. Stupid? Yes, but it made sence at the time, since I was in Switzerland for 45 min in a rental car on french plates, so in my head it could have been anybody.
Iīm know trying the Swiss embassy in Denmark to settle it, because as you say; why risk it?
On the one hand, don't speed and you'll be just grand, on the other hand, the Swiss are sneaky. They put signs in not so visible places, and places where it changes for no reason, so pretty much everyone gets flashed because it has no rhyme or reason why to change speed and the sign comes up very quickly. They also fine for every tiny infraction, difficult to escape it.
Going more then 10 above the speed limit though, is the driver's problem...useless to do and can cause an accident...my daughter was hit by a car, and it was not even speeding, just normal for a city street, but a bit too fast for being near a school and a yellow crossing...
On the one hand, don't speed and you'll be just grand, on the other hand, the Swiss are sneaky. They put signs in not so visible places, and places where it changes for no reason, so pretty much everyone gets flashed because it has no rhyme or reason why to change speed and the sign comes up very quickly. They also fine for every tiny infraction, difficult to escape it.
Going more then 10 above the speed limit though, is the driver's problem...useless to do and can cause an accident...my daughter was hit by a car, and it was not even speeding, just normal for a city street, but a bit too fast for being near a school and a yellow crossing...
Agree signing is poor - you just need a big truck parked where it obstructs the view of a sign & as a driver you are in trouble.
I've just received a speeding fine in BS
Does anyone know if Hochbergerstrasse (nr the Stucki centre) is classed as 'Ausserorts' (outskirts) or 'Innerorts' (inner city)? And also what does 'Driver Registered' entail?
From Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police:
How are foreign motorists who do not pay their fine punished on re-entering Switzerland?
Under federal legislation, the details of the person are entered into the RIPOL database if the fine has not been paid and has subsequently been commuted into a prison sentence. This measure encourages people who wish to re-enter to pay their fine. Fines imposed by the Swiss authorities can be enforced on Swiss territory for a period of three years.
Seems Iīm off the hook and it explains why they couldnīt find me in the RIPOL database.
:-)
Fred
friend has documentation that says 10 years not 3.
I've just received a speeding fine in BS
Does anyone know if Hochbergerstrasse (nr the Stucki centre) is classed as 'Ausserorts' (outskirts) or 'Innerorts' (inner city)? And also what does 'Driver Registered' entail?
Cheers
I think to recollect that the "BASEL" city limit signs (which mark the beginning of "innerorts") are right at the international border in this area, making all of Kleinhuningen "innerorts".
This user would like to thank tom tulpe for this useful post:
I've just received a speeding fine in BS
Does anyone know if Hochbergerstrasse (nr the Stucki centre) is classed as 'Ausserorts' (outskirts) or 'Innerorts' (inner city)? And also what does 'Driver Registered' entail?
Cheers
'Driver Registered' would mean offender's license would be withdrawn immediately for a certain duration, ranging from few months to a couple of years depending upon the severity of offence.
hope you are not falling into that category of over-speeding or were you driving that fast??
'Driver Registered' would mean offender's license would be withdrawn immediately for a certain duration, ranging from few months to a couple of years depending upon the severity of offence.
hope you are not falling into that category of over-speeding or were you driving that fast??
I have no recollection of speeding in that area or being flashed, but if they have proof then I guess I'm guilty as charged. The letter states that after the 5 km/h grace I was doing 18 km/h over the 50 km/h limit The distinction between inner and outer city therefore becomes quite important as if it were on the outskirts I would get a CHF 240 fine, but inner city its CHF 350 + potential loss of licence
The distinction between inner and outer city therefore becomes quite important as if it were on the outskirts I would get a CHF 240 fine, but inner city its CHF 350 + potential loss of licence
If you didn't have a warning or a license suspension within the last two years then you shouldn't lose your license over this even if it was within city limits and get away with the fine and a warning. But you'll need to be more careful for the next two years...
Have a look at the table 'Administrative Actions' at the bottom of this post.
This user would like to thank Mark75 for this useful post:
I have no recollection of speeding in that area or being flashed, but if they have proof then I guess I'm guilty as charged. The letter states that after the 5 km/h grace I was doing 18 km/h over the 50 km/h limit The distinction between inner and outer city therefore becomes quite important as if it were on the outskirts I would get a CHF 240 fine, but inner city its CHF 350 + potential loss of licence
Youch! I hope for your sake that it's outer-city.
In the meantime, can I recommend some instructional viewing?
This user would like to thank Village Idiot for this useful post:
While I dont deny I was speeding last night on the Motorway and shouldnt have been of course (it was a long journey and I wanted home!), the car in front of me was doing equally the same speed and I was the same distance behind him/her for a good stretch of the motorway so we were doing roughly the same speed.
Somewhere near Winterthur we saw the camera flash. Now my question is, is it possible that they would have only flashed him and not me? Or are they quick enough to catch us both?
I definitely saw two flashes but they look liked they came out the front of the camera and then the back which leads me to believe that it could have been taking the picture of his front and then rear plate. Is this viable?
Wishful thinking I know! Anyway lesson learned for me after learning of the steepness of the fines and penalties.
. It seems odd you should have received a fine with absolutely no indication of how to pay.
The distinction between inner and outer city therefore becomes quite important as if it were on the outskirts I would get a CHF 240 fine, but inner city its CHF 350 + potential loss of licence 
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