So here is the case: I was out an evening with a friend of mine and on the way back we passed by Oerlikon for her to get some money from the bank. At a crossroad with traffic lights I passed with GREEN and then my friend she was not sure if we should go straight or turn to the left. So I slowed down and made a move to turn to the left when she said that oh no we need to go straight. Then blp blip the camera made a picture and then we were both like " was that for us? I drive with around 35 and I crossed with green..Ah maybe for the car behind?" and so we continued...All these happenned within seconds as you can imagine...A couple of days ago I received a fine for this road stating that I passed with red...1.6 seconds after the light had turned red...I am sure that I did not...I wonder if the fact that I made the move to turn to the left caused the camera to light on...If I go and say it to the police do u know if I can avoid pay this fine? It is a bit strange two people at the same time to be cartain that it was not red...!
Find out if you can obtain copies of the pictures. If you can at all, it will probably cost you a lot, but may be worth it. Normally, the traffic lights must be visible in the photo evidence, and two photos must exist to show vehicle movement. At least thats how it is in Oz.
I'd pay the fine. Your excuse for being in the area covered by the camera after the lights changed might be taken as careless driving (going to turn left then changing to go straight).
There are two approaches to your situation. Firstly you can appeal to the police authority stating the situation. Or alternatively you can appeal to the Strassenverkehrsamt which might well end up in court.
It is interesting because you should actually receive a ban for being over 1 second!
For the former there should be a part on the letter telling you to do this.
I've been done for over 1 second. In fact, I got done for 30 seconds too late, which is actually the same thing is a microsecond too early. No ban, just 250 francs thanks very much.
Matter of fact I have another one on my desk today - a combined red light and speeding, they add them together for you nicely.
As you very well know driving a car is an alternative form of taxation with several elements and few known ways of setting off the tax other than buying a GA and selling the car...
With this quote, even yet-undiscovered indians in the Amazon jungle could tell you live, or at least drive regularly in, Zürich. Although GE, LU and SH are not better.
GAs are the go if you can convince ones self that one does not require said automobile. And with a GA, you will never end up like this:
Litespeed - I think you are having far too much fun with that scanner. Did you just buy it or something? Or do you now have more time on your hands....
Yes, I have a little too much time on my hands now. No, the scanner ain't new, but the book is. I found it the other day whilst helping someone empty an apartment. The book is called "Die Strasse Lebt". It is a 1959 book/album aimed at older children, who could then order the colour pictures and stick them in. This one was fortunately complete, excellent condition and still in its special carton cover.
This book belongs to what appears to be a series covering a wider range of topics. A good marketing exercise in its time.
If you are being a bit over zealous with the right foot, the light has been on orange just a wee bit too long and you see a camera, stop.
I stopped ahead of the line in Zurich, the camera flashed and no ticket. A Swiss friend said that if they compare the two pictures and see you to have stopped they don't issue a fine, which I think is great.
Going back a while in 2003 I was seriously ill, my wife was trying to get me to a doctor and passed through a 60 kmh at 68 kmh. After 2 weeks intensive care in the uni spital I went to the police to explain, armed with a letter from the hospital describing my illness and the urgency needed to get me to a Doctor, No joy I had to pay but I didn’t get a bill for the speed cameras between Mannerdorf and Zurich in the ambulance. Just one other point while im here don’t underestimate the seriousness of tick bites.
I have heard horror stories about this, unfortunately haven't found enough 'official' info in english. I would suggest this is an excellent idea for a new thread, perhaps you can start if off?
Well here is something interesting. So lets cover a few points.
Firstly Switzerland and Germany have a bilateral agreement on traffic offences meaning the fine is enforceable through the German courts - so do not ignore it.
Secondly, you say it was your car. In Switzerland if your car is involved in a traffic offence it is your responsibility unless you can demonstrate it was someone else driving. If you can it becomes their responsibility fully and you have nothing to fear.
Although you did not notice it there was certainly a camera that took a nice picture of you and your friend. You can ask for the picture but need not. The reason is that you can claim it was your friend from Bongo Bongo land with which Switzerland has no treaties. As long as you can provide an address where a letter will not be returned and inform the person there so they can write and tell the Swiss authorities that they have no intention of returning to Switzerland and also no intention of paying although they were guilty then you are in the clear - they will get circa 3 letters produced by computer before it reaches a human who will close the case. Unless of course the German authorities turn up with the picture and check, so act quickly.
If the boot was on the other foot ie you were photographed in Germany then **if** the other person was the guilty party and your husband/wife/son/daughter you can say I am not prepared to say who it is and the Swiss police will pull their hair out but legally you are in the right - they cannot force you to disclose.
Interesting this as you maybe should not have paid. You are exempt from the speed limits if you drive "with caution" carrying a pregnant women as long as she has the baby the same day or a victim of an accident needing emergency treatment. Is a tick an accident?
Thanks for the reply, but unfortunately I can't utilize it!
I came to Germany 3 years back and am returning to my home country (Non-EU) on Jan 31st, 2007.
The date of receipt of the fine letter was 22. Nov, 2006 and they asked to transfer the money within 1 month from the date of receipt. What will happen if I don't pay the fine? Will it cause problem if I come back to Germany later? Is there any possibility to excuse from the fine since I'll be leaving EU very soon!?
Consider yourself lucky. I was caught in the exact same situation in that duw to traffic I stopped in the middle of an intersection. Probably not more than two seconds after which I continued as I could not blocjk the road. Blip Blip then a few says later I was INVITED down to the police station where I received a fine of 786 sfrs plus my license was revoked for a month. Coming from CAnada to be exact I was so pissed off at the bloody cops that I gave them a piece of my mind as to what I thought about their money making machine etcetc. My wife being SWISS forcefully removed me from the station . Probably befoe I got myself into more trouble. Anyways I thing the whole traffic situation stinks here in
Switzerland. Police are never around when they are needed. To add insult to injury my wife was robbed three times in Zurich and myself once. This happened in broad daylight on Bahnofstrasse
This happened to me exept I was following through with the traffic. the woman in front of me stopped, deciding which way to turn, then went again. I got the blip.
another time I went slighty over the line the flash went and then realised and backed up. i went atriaght to the police station, pleaded and begged. They wouldn't say anything, but I didn't get a fine maybe because there was no camera just the flash?
Actually I have been able to reason with some police in every country. If you have a clean license they tend to be forgiving- but not always.