I'll keep it concise...

I'm new in Switzerland, just moved in last week, got registered in Oetwil everything 'tip top'.

Parked outside the Post Office in Oetwil, for those who know it there's also a large bus station there. Popped in to get some mail I missed came back out and there was a policeman let's call him plod 2 (plod 1 was the driver with whom I had no dialogue) sniffing round my UK car with UK plates.

He said I have to pay a fine on the spot 100 CHF for parking there (I was all of 45 seconds in the post office) I said why, he said because I am foreign I have to pay cash on the spot. I said I have a Swiss address please send me the bill, he grunted at me but still kept hold of my cash I gave him.

Then another chap parked outside the Post Office the other side of the police car, plod 1 said something to him, and then in turn said something to plod 2 who was with me. Plod 2 grunted at me again, this time with more Swissness, and said glück gehapt, gave me my 100 francs back and told me to make a swift move.

I have no idea what or why this was all I know was I was lucky, I duly apologised and he continued to show his discontent.

Now I admit I was at fault, I broke a rule albeit for 45 seconds.

BUT IM NOT A CRIMINAL!

And I don't wish to be treated like one... All the while I politely spoke with him in my broken german he knew I was new in Switzerland, yet no sympathy, in fact he was very rude most definitely on a power trip.

We're not primitave animals and I don't wish to be treated like one but anyway, thats what happened to me today.

Best wishes

Stewart

Hi Stewart, and welcome to Switzerland!!!

Sorry, it is unclear to me as to how you were treated like a criminal ?

next time.... don't forget to wear trousers

welcome to switzerland

Umm, the sniffing around, the grunting, the fine ...

Welcome to Switzerland

I wonder who the guy was talking to the police officer..

That's their duty. Nothing there that says 'treated like a criminal' to me...

Were he arrested, charged, locked up, handcuffed or some other treatment that Police normally do, then the OP would have a point. Granted he may have been treated rudely, but trust me, his treatment was nothing like that of a criminal's.

Uh oh, you will have poor Stewart running for the hills now!!

Are you telling us that you parked on a bus stop?
Then you are just lucky to not meet the bus driver. Don't mess with public transport. It falls in the same category as armed robbery, at least.

But no click click, no latex gloves, no fine --> no problem

You have to pay police extra to be friendly, it's Switzerland after all

parking on a bus stop?

in this case, they normally use these for getting you out of ur car:




sorry, just joking.

be nice and friendly with swiss police, no matter how "rude" they begin.
it is more than half the rent to get you out of situation with just a formal oral warning. ... as long as you don't park on a bus stop

They were making a film about bank robbers, and you wandered onto the set. That's why you were told to leave quickly!

Or how you were treated like a primitive animal?

Probably it is the return of "candid camera".
No seriously that's the usual warm swiss welcome to foreigners.

CHF 100.- would about fit the "bussenkatalog"...

217. 1. Parkieren näher als 10 m vor einer Haltestellentafel öffentlicher
Verkehrsbetriebe (Art. 18 Abs. 3 und 19 Abs. 2 Bst. a VRV) bis
60 Minuten
CHF 120.-
2. Behinderndes Halten zum Ein- und Aussteigenlassen von
Personen näher als 10 m vor einer Haltestellentafel öffentlicher
Verkehrsbetriebe (Art. 18 Abs. 3 VRV)
CHF 80.-
3. Halten zum Güterumschlag näher als 10 m vor einer Haltestellentafel
öffentlicher Verkehrsbetriebe (Art. 18 Abs. 3 VRV)
CHF 80.-
218. 1. Parkieren näher als 10 m nach einer Haltestellentafel öffentlicher
Verkehrsbetriebe (Art. 18 Abs. 3 und 19 Abs. 2 Bst. a VRV) bis
60 Minuten
CHF 120.-
2. Behinderndes Halten zum Ein- und Aussteigenlassen von
Personen näher als 10 m nach einer Haltestellentafel öffentlicher
Verkehrsbetriebe (Art. 18 Abs. 3 VRV)
CHF 80.-
3. Halten zum Güterumschlag näher als 10 m nach einer Haltestellentafel
öffentlicher Verkehrsbetriebe (Art. 18 Abs. 3 VRV)
CHF 80.-
219. 1. Parkieren bei Haltestellen öffentlicher Verkehrsbetriebe auf dem
angrenzenden Trottoir (Art. 18 Abs. 3 und 19 Abs. 2 Bst. a VRV)
bis 60 Minuten
CHF 120.-
2. Halten bei Haltestellen öffentlicher Verkehrsbetriebe auf dem
angrenzenden Trottoir (Art. 18 Abs. 3 VRV)
CHF 80.-

Mods: this thread needs moving from "Complaints corner" and tagging onto the "Now Tell me what you like about Switzerland" thread.

Handed a CHF100 fine back indeed...

I think what it was that the plods were looking for something more for lunch, other than the usual MickeyD's, and when the other car pulled up, the driver (known as "LiB"), promised he'd bring them back some KFC on his next jolly over the border - so they were finger-licking (doh!) happy and let you off.

At least they didn`t put a boot on the car... Then you would have had to deal with THIS...

Can the police issue cash on the spot fines in Switzerland?

I guess the Tram Police do, but I didn't know they did it for traffic offences.

the police can give you on the spot fines. Just take a trip down the highway and overtake an unmarked police car (I recommend the green and silver Omegas on the A3 just south of Zurich).

they'll even offer you a discount for that priviledge

Thanks for all the encouranging comments everyone .

Well for those who don't know Oetwil take a look on google earth, the bustop is huge, big enough for a Jumbo Jet with the post office tucked away in the corner I was hardly in anyones way for all of 45 seconds!

Having said that I'm not denying it, I was in the wrong. My gripe is the rudeness, trust me I'm used to rude I'm from Birmingham!

But this guy was gold medalist chip on the shoulder category, threatening me that I would have to leave the car there unless I cough up.

Hell I never answered him back I spoke formal german to him unlike my usual 'du und bist' and I have a Swiss address which gave more options.

Anyway I've slept on it now got it off my chest and I'm bloody chuffed to bits for whatever reason he gave me the dosh back.

Stewart