Car Driving - Entry into No Entry Zone with Tram Track

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Hi All,

I am not feeling good asking this but this is what happened on my last trip to Zurich, Switzerland. I accidentally drove into a road with Tram Tracks which was not for Public Use (I am assuming as I did not see any other car drivers there). That road led me to Tram station and Tram was waiting for passengers over there. So I just waited behind the Tram and once Tram moved, I slowly moved behind that and got into the Correct Road for Car Drivers. I know that's big shame and this is my first ever such mistake in 13 years of car driving history in four different countries. I really feel sorry for the incident but made sure the people crossing tram tracks were not offended and I was really slow.

I just want to know what can I now expect from Swiss Government? I am fine to pay any fines they ask for. Although I hope that won't be too much to pay for me. Has anybody got into this kind of situation before? Is there any Swiss Website where I can go and check if I have been caught on that road and if they have already issued fine? I live in UK so I think it will take some time for me to receive any fine ticket but I am just getting restless so thought of asking some experts here who know Swiss driving rules.

Many Thanks.

2
I wouldn't worry too much if no police officer has stopped you.

Your biggest penalty will probably the expected 200 replies to this thread (it is Friday afternoon and EF members are bored)

3
Maybe you've missed something in your post, but why do you think you're going to be prosecuted? Were you stopped by the police at all?

And what nationality car were you in?

4
Thanks for quick replies Guys. Just to answer your queries - I wasn't stopped by anybody and I was drving rented car in Switzerland. I also didn't get flashed - although I am not too sure on this one as it was full sunny day and I was really tensed to get out of that Tram station.

5
You can sleep well. If the police didn't see you I would not worry too much.

6
I really wouldn't worry about it then. It'd take at least two separate reports from the public before the police would think about acting on this, and TBH as long as you didn't endanger anyone most people would just chuckle at how stupid you were and how embarrassed you must have been feeling.

7
Except that you've now admitted a major driving offence on a public board, so expect a knock on the door from interpol very soon....

I wouldn't worry too much though - it may be you did nothing wrong as there are some places where the tram track and road merge temporarily (e.g. Weinbergstrasse and central Höngg if I remember correctly) and it's perfectly ok to drive on these parts.

8
To,

Ace1, k_and_e and Sbrinz

Thank you very much guys. Thanks a lot. You really helped me settle my nerves. Have a wonderful weekend.

Regards.

9
Hahaha... I am just a bit of pessimistic person so I think all things negatively. The tram station I jumped on to was on some intersaction of these two roads:

- Bahnhofstrasse

- Barengasse

But as everybody else has said, I would stop worrying too much on this now. Have a nice weekend.

10
To hang with mowing down unexpecting pedestrians and causing chaos...were you speeding?

That's a capital offence. At least to some EF members.

11
Hi Mate,

No I was not at all speeding. And I really got afraid after reading "capital offence". You really made my heart beat faster . But I can make out you were joking by your Smiley at the bottom (I hope I am right as I am too nervous at the moment to segregate emotions from words).

Cheers.

12
Yeah, I'm only kidding.

13
I've seen local (BS plated) cars quite frequently make a mess of the tram-only parts especially around Messeplatz. So I wouldn't worry about it; although driving into a tram station is taking it to the extreme.

14
Did that in Milan once; turned right & finished up driving up the tram track that was in the middle of the road seperated by small hedges from the carriageways. I was quite worried until I noticed 2 cars, a truck & a motorbike had all followed me.

15
I've seen it at Barfusserplatz in Basel as well. If you don't turn right, you end up at the platform, trapped between two trams, studioulsy looking directly ahead to avoid eye contact with all those pedestrians laughing at you.

I've never seen anyone actually get a ticket for it.

16
Has happened with me also in Basel once near the SBB!!

So I know what you felt...

But no tickets or fines - so that was some relief...

have a nice weekend and don't worry

17
Do you think you could pick me up from the tramstop in Wallisellen at around 4:30pm-5ish...I'd pay you regular fare.

18
Don't worry be Happy. they didn't catch you, so they can't do you

19
I've seen loads of "out of towners" making a big pig's ear of driving around the tram-only places. Usually the biggest punishment they have to endure is the nearest tram driver leaning on his bell as if his life depended on it and every pedestrian within a 100 metre radius turning to do the obligatory stare with an approximate 5%* break-away group slowly tapping their forehead with a forefinger whilst shaking their heads.

In the absence of an immediate police presence the local "staring/tapping/head-shaking constabulary" take care of minor traffic infractions.

*the percentage of forehead tappers increases proportionately with the stupidity of the infraction.

20
Thanks to adrianlondon, marton, Notallthere, Onthemove and keith66 for replies. Have a nice weekend guys.

By the way, I was trying to find a way to say Thank You in direct post (like it says this person thanked this person)... but couldn't get it. I am new to this site. Could someone please direct me? Thanks.