Hello dear forum members. Today was my first day in Switzerland in three years, and unfortunately it was a lot of hustle. Please allow me to explain. I've rented a car and traveled in Switzerland with my elderly parents a couple times in the past, and we did the same thing this time. Flew to Zurich, spent quite a bit of time at the rental car counter talking about details such as optional CDW and stuff and finally took off. Then we kind of got lost, and I ended up on driving in a busy section of a city. It was hard to navigate a unfamiliar place driving a stick shift (I got used to it after a while...), and I was kind of arguing with my parents. Then a bad thing happened. I went through a red light and was caught by an automatic camera (flash!). Quite upsetting, but I managed to stay calm. After a while, when we stopped at a parking area, I made a phone call to the rental company. Basically what the agent I talked with said was that I would have to let them know when I return the car (10 days from now), and that I would have to pay 50CHF administrative fee in addition to the fine (which they didn't know how much) when the law enforcement contact the rental company. Later I did research and found out a red light ticket in Switzerland is usually 250 francs. Whew. Has anyone had any traffic tickets in Switzerland? If so, what was the experience? Will I eventually receive a traffic ticket by mail after I get back? How am I going to pay for it? I am all ears. Thank you!
Posted by
Ojai, CA
591 posts
You may not even get a ticket.... no need to do anything right now. I did get a ticket a few years ago in Switzerland. It was sent it to the rental car company who paid for it and then just charged it to my credit card.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Casey: Best wishes on this and hopefully the mopey feelings you mentioned have passed. I had a similar feeling when I scraped a rental car on a car-eating, low-lying bollard in an Italian town a few years ago. Even though I had full CDW and knew there would be no cost to me, it did bug me for the rest of the day, I have to admit. People have made far worse mistakes driving in Europe, than you did. Driving a rental car in Europe can complicate things, sometimes in unexpected ways, for people used to driving in the US and Canada. I guess that's why many experienced travelers to Europe prefer to take trains, rather than rent a car, in areas where train service is goodwhich is most urban areas in western Europe. And some will always prefer to drive, either because that's what they always do when traveling in the US, or because they're going to rural areas where train service is not good. Hopefully those who decide to drive in Europe are not first-timers, are aware of the differences in driving between here and there, and are up to the extra challenges.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33545 posts
Sounds like you earned it. And are lucky to be alive. Whatever it costs I am sure you have used the occasion to learn how important it is to remain focused on the driving to the exclusion of everything else. I am sure you have thought that you could have injured (or worse) your parents and the driver of a car going in the right direction. If it were me I would be eager to accept the ticket as a lesson. I'm sorry if preachy, but the other drivers didn't know you. Paying a Swiss ticket should be much easier than an Italian one.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
Sounds like Tim has experience in this area...just wait and see if your card is charged the fine. If they end up mailing a ticket, just follow the instructions to pay it and be done with it. In the meantime, I wouldn't worry about it. Nigel: Actually, Italian traffic tickets are the easiest to take care of according to many here...you just ignore it. What could be easier? :)
Posted by
OP
Portland, Oregon, USA
12 posts
Thanks, everyone, for your posts. My recollection is that I was entering the intersection when the light was changing from yellow to red. I somehow thought it was better to keep on going than stopping right on the intersection. Obviously my decision was not right. I just want to make it clear that I am not trying to dispute the violation or trying to get away with it. I have always considered myself as a safe and careful driver, so thinking about what happened have made me mopey and made it hard to enjoy my vacation. If I could pay the fine right now, I would really be eager to do it and move on with the lesson I learned. I just wanna do this thing right, and I really hope the whole paying the fine outside of Switzerland thing won't get too complicated.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33545 posts
I hope things improve, Casey. If you get something from the authorities and if you find it difficult to understand there are a number of regulars here who can help with the German. I hope you enjoy now.
Posted by
St Louis
1 posts
Casey,
It looks like you did not get an answer to your question. I am interested in knowing how you paid your ticket. I was in Switzerland in 2007 and got a speeding ticket by camera. The ticket arrived at my house 6 months later. I did not pay it but not intentionally. I simply forgot and have since lost the ticket. I still want to pay my ticket. I remember it was somewhere around 250 CHF. I still don't know how much that is in USD. If you have any information, please share. Thanks!