I was flashed by a camera today doing 110 in an 80Km area in a hire car from Europcar on a UK license at the end of the Uster motorway. I have still not got my Bewilligung because I am self employed and going through the motions, but for all intent and purposes I am resident here. What can I expect to happen?

You will get a letter from the hirecar company to the address you gave when hiring the car, adding their 30chf admin charge together with the fixed penalty notice for whatever the fines are these days...
dave

You were doing 110? Naughty boy.

http://www.radar.ch/radar/index.php?...d=61&Itemid=41

You would be over-reading. And you'll get 5% discount. So you'll be around 99/100kph - 180 francs to pay

Thanks guys, just out of interest, can they take away your UK licence for a month! OK They can say no driving in CH, but does that mean you can drice elsewhere. Can you choose the month!

When my friend was caught speeding his Irish license was taken off him, he was later told that this was illegal. I would presume it would be the same with the UK one. He drove outside of Switzerland but at that time their were no bilateral agreements in place so I presume driving would be dependant on where you are but if you can't produce your license you may get in trouble for that. No you can't choose the month.

Hi telandy,

I disagree with Lou. You are able to choose the month when it suits you best.

My friend was not able to choose when he had his ban but this could be one of those cantonal variation things.

they're not going to ban you for 110 in an 80 as long as you were on motorway.
wait until you get the ticket anyway

and.....

THINK OF THE KITTENS!!

My brother drove to fast in Germany (near Freiburg im Breisgau where there is a speed limit) we told him to slow down (cannot remember how much more than he should). He thought that he would get away with it as he is Swiss and has a Swiss license ... Well whilst he was in hopsital for surgery a Swiss police guy showed up and took his driving license away for 3 months.

Just been summoned to the Police Station to explain my speeding!! No picture or explanation was given.

Here goes!!

Only thing is I am away from tomorrow for a week and I left a message to ring my English mobile number!!

Have they already written to you telling you officially how fast you were officially going?

Good luck...!
If you explain you're new in town and say sorry and you've learned from your mistake you'll get away with just an income-related fine.

Or if you're unlucky:

Just for your information...I hired a van back in September 2006 from Ada and I got a speeding fine directly from the police for doing 4km/h over the limit (CHF40 fine) but I did not receive anything from the rental company. So apparently the rental company cotacted the police. I did not receive anything extra to pay from the rental company. Just the CHF40 fine.

No notification at all either from the Police saying I was 20 over or whatever, no photo and nothing from Europcar just this letter from the Police asking me to explain my speeding!!


The small police station is only open once in a blue moon? I went down there a couple of times today, but no one was in!!

It may be an apocryphal story, but... I heard that a UK expat living in France was caught going tooooo fast in Switzerland. The police took his French driving licence and called in a cab. He successfully claimed that as the licence remained the property of the French authorities the police had no right to take it. He got the licence back, but also a big fine.

Probably best not to play the wise guy with the police though.

Went down to the Police station in an 80KM zone, they measured 127KM, -6 for tolerance, so I'm 41KM over on the motorway. Good news it that they cannot take my UK license away, bad news it will cost, but be a lesson.

considering you have no income, I'd like to see this income-related fine

As we're sharing... my boyfriend got busted for speeding last year while test driving a motorbike. He was doing about 85 in a 50 zone, I think and they suspended his Swiss license for 3 months and fined him a percentage of his income, which worked out to be about 2700chf - ouch. He was able to choose when he gave up his license, so he waited until I got here and then was really, really nice to me while I drove him around for 90 days! He still has his UK license, so when we went to England he drove.

Another friend (Brit) had his Swiss license taken off him for a year due to a DUI and then when they were supposed to give it back to him, they wanted him to go in for monthly blood tests etc to make sure he was fit to drive. They actually sent him an 800chf bill for the first test, even though he refused to go. He proceeded to drive with his UK license, but got done in by his girlfriend (stupid cow) so the Swiss cops have taken that off him and it has yet to be returned....

The bottom line seems to be that if you screw up here, they hit you where it hurts - in your wallet. I was a compulsive speeder, (gravel roads - Alberta - what cops??) but am now so flash sensitive that I'm practically epileptic. A tram flashes and I hit the brakes, even on foot, it's ridiculous. But I can't afford the fines, and if I have another run in with the Zurich Police I might just lose my temper, so although I abhor compliance, better slow than sorry. And broke.

Oh dear, oh dear... You might have quite some fun with this. Firstly you can expect a minimum 3 month ban and I suspect they will suspend this until you get your Swiss licence and they will ask you to give your UK license in exchange - there is an agreement between UK and CH for this. The terms of your English license are that you are resident in the UK which you are deemed not to be once the period of 12 months has elapsed hence they can ask for it and return it to DVLC for you...

When it comes to the fine expect to pay some 6-800 in administration plus a fine of at least SFr. 1500 assuming no income. They are very likely to suspend this payment too until such times as you have income so as not to leave you badly off. You might (will) find them asking for information about your business or about your savings which can form a pillar of the fine. But be prepared to dig deep into your wallet or run now

Richard,

Very interesting on your comments. If I can't drive I can't work, so no income and possibly no job!! All for 41km, which too be honest I am really surprised at. Damage limitation exercise is needed. I did declare that I have some income, but also debts, so an interesting case is squaring up.

I can always employ an au pair to be my chauffeur