A guy i know had to spend the night in a cell for just being too drunk (not violent but just "ah these stone steps look comfortable to sleep on" kind of drunk")
He had a hefty little overnight fine which would have gotten him a nice room at the Savoy cinema at Paradeplatz i'm sure
Obviously a passport needs more room but my foreign friends always carry their C permit (which they find normal thing to do).
Certain people however do everything they can to get themselves incarcerated for a Christmas dinner, and eat better than they would on the outside...
dave
However, if a person is under suspicion of committing even a minor offense and can't pay or identify himself, the police has the right to take him to the police post for up to 3 hours to verify his identity.
Strip searches are normal when somebody is suspected to have drugs or has to wait in the cell while the police makes the identity check. Nobody touches the arrested person, cavities are only inspected if there's a strong suspicion, and strip searches are an international standard procedure. Here 's the police spokesperson's stand in German.
The Young Green Party's campaign is unjustified. And they even admitted that they weren't nude but wearing swimsuits when they shot the photo, and later they digitally retouched it... Sheesh, what happened to the eighties?! Is there even one youth party in Switzerland that isn't a little crazy?
You should carry your Swiss residence permit, passport or other form of identification with you at all times within Switzerland (except when swimming or jogging).
I took it to mean that it was legally required to do so but, of course, reading it again in the light of your remarks, it could be just strong advice.
So, while it might not be against the law not to carry ID, if you don’t have it then the police could suspect that you are here illegally and arrest you anyway. I suppose the best advice is that it’s not legally required to carry ID but if you don’t you could be arrested.
Regarding having money on you, my wife is quite adamant that in the 60’s it was the case and we had the opportunity check this today with several people (all about retirement age) who confirmed the same thing. As mentioned earlier, it’s probably a law that’s no longer enforced but, if it's not been repealed, it could be.
From what I've learned in Law Course in (swiss) scool you always have to carry some kind of identificiation card on you. However, there is sure no law that you have to carry money with you (even though this wouldn't surprise beeing in Switzerland :-)) I guess the reference to the money in the article was made in the context of "he didn't have money to pay the fine or the the ticket fee".
Reading the article, it also says that both men have started arguing with the cops (which led to arrestemt). In the second case the man denies this, so it's a question on who is telling the truth. Regarding the stripping part: the police argues, that they do this to prevent suspects from hurting (or even killing) themselfs in the cell. So it's a preventive thing they always do.
However, in general there is absolutely no reason to be afraid of Swiss Police. As long as you don't start arguing or even physically attacking them they are very reasonable and respectful I found (living here for 30 years).
“In the interests of crime prevention and/or law enforcement, the police may perform certain checks: ID checks,......etc, etc”
and also states that
“ Although you are obliged to provide your personal details, you are not required to carry proof of ID. Under certain circumstances, a person may be requested to go to the police station to establish their identity” .
It doesn't say what happens if you refuse the ‘request’ ! So, you don’t have to carry official ID but it’s a lot easier if you do and also remember that if you are involved in an accident it could help things if the authorities know who you are.
I wonder where this legend or rule that one always has to carry money comes from. I'll ask some older Swiss if I get the chance. I remember that I've often had at least 60 centimes with me when I was a kid, so I could phone home from a phone booth in case something happens.
It's very unlikely that the police would carry out an identity check unless they had some reason to do so.
Can the rules vary from kanton to kanton?
I'm a bit skeptical you have to carry it, but I do anyway.
They were of course polite and asked me for my ID and car documents.
Unfortunately, I didn't have either with me because they were in my jacket at home. They then asked me my home address which I duly gave and they went to their car, presumably to check if my licence plate tallied with the information that I gave.
Everything checked out and I was fined Fr 20 for each missing document and Fr 40 for my passenger who (I didn't notice), wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
I remembered that in the UK whenever I was pulled over, I had seven days to produce said documents at my nearest cop shop.
I asked if I had to bring the papers to the police station and was told that it wasn't neccessary.
Hmmm
The night in the cells might be a consequence of committing an offense under the influence, but I would have to look up the conditions under which this can happen.
But during the night, an identification might be handy as a proof of age as many bars etc. don't let in people under 16/18 after 10pm, or for adolescents who whant to buy booze at a petrol station. As for curfew laws with an age limit, they are regional if existing at all, the only one I know affected under 16 years olds in Interlaken during the Greenfield festival. Other parliamentary motions for curfew laws have been rejected so far, as far as I know.
Sorry that you've got milked for 80 Fr. Flashman4. It is indeed required by law that the car papers and the drivers license are in the car.
As for the seatbelt, it's just a reflex to check this for my front passenger because I regularly drived with young people who frequently forgot to wear it. For your information, the concept of mutual responsability for the (co)driver isn't limited to the seat belt. If a sober front passenger permits that an intoxicated person sits behind the steering wheel, he's liable too.