fines were for being 22kph and 20kph over the limit. now cant say I wasn't over but how expense are these fines.
If I do not pay them can they take me to court in the UK??
I would rather pay but they are asking ridiculous money. Can anyone help me please, also I have already been charged £50 admin by the car rental company.
In the UK we don't bother chasing foreigners for speeding fines but is this the same in Swizerland?
Also if I didn't pay and ever travelled to Switzerland again do you think they would have a record if I didn't pay?
Of course you shouldn't pay. You're British, aren't you? What's the point in winning two World Wars if you have to go paying for your misdemeanours while abroad?
There is the small problem that you'd be hit with a very large bill for fines and additional costs next time you show your passport at the Swiss border, but again, on what ethical or moral grounds should you be compelled to pay for travelling at dangerous speeds in some Johnny Foreigner-filled country?
If you never intend to return again you *might* get away with it but is that a gamble you're prepared to take? I have no idea if they chase fines overseas but if I were guessing based on my experiences of living here so far, I would say I bet they would....I've had a couple of hefty fines since I arrived and as much as I was a bit miffed they definitely made me modify my driving!
Maybe I've been here too long - the amounts seem quite reasonable to me ...... at least they're not into 4 figures.
For two fines, the Swiss authorities MAY ask their British counterparts to pursue payment on their behalf, plus costs, so it is possible that on some future, unknown day, when all is forgotten, you could find a busy knocking at your door.
They will probably come after you in the UK for the payment. But to b honest, the UK police are so busy and now under staffed, I very much doubt if they will chase you. But who knows ....
I am surprised the rental company didn't charge your credit card! At least they haven't taken your license away from you or offered you days in prison. Welcolme to Switzerland.
My other half was fined (and paid) for being ONE MILE over the speed limit in England a few years ago. I see no reason at all why you shouldn't be held responsible for being more than twenty kilometres over the limit here.... and that on two separate occasions. If you're looking for local know-how on to avoid your responsibilities I'm afraid you're asking the wrong bunch.
For fixed fines like this they aren't going to chase you internationally it's not worth it. I doubt they would stop you on the way in next time as well but I suppose it's possible. If you've no plans to come back in the next few years I'd bin them, if you plan on returning, pay.
Since Jan 1st this year the holder of a car can be held liable for any fines caused by the car if the driver can't be gotten hold of. Doesn't matter who the actual driver was.
I wonder if the car rental company will be held liable if you don't pay - in which case the company would most probably come after you, and of course would demand reimbursement for their own efforts - ca-ching ca-chang.
I agree with these two. Don't let the people on here bully you or guilt trip you into paying up. It's up to you in the end and you have to weigh up the pros and cons of paying the fines.
Just because you got flashed and although it's the law of the land, that doesn't make it right and there's plenty of threads that describe the absurd places the Swiss authorities deem it necessary to place speeding cameras. However given the speed you were over the limit though, I suspect you were in the wrong.
Can they legally pursue you in the UK? Probably not, although there have been instances of UK police knocking on people's doors asking them to pay up (although even in these cases they were not obliged to pay). Will you have problems entering Switzerland again in future? Also unlikely, passports are not linked to your address in the UK and a name on it's own is not enough to identify you (i.e. there are plenty of people called John Smith).
So in the end it's down to you. If you can take the hit then pay up and take it as a lesson learnt. If you think you can get away with it, and are happy to do so, then bin those letters.
I'm not aware of any exceptions to that rule. Therefore the rental company will have to pay (if it was a Swiss registered car) and will go after the OP, possibly adding some more admin fees.