A fine of 95,000 euros for exceeding the speed limitation in Switzerland in 27 km/h: this is what has just passed to a French motorist. There are no aggravating factors such as excessive alcohol consumption to explain this very high amount of a ticket, but simply a subtlety of the Swiss Criminal Code, which in fact can adapt the sanction to the income of the facts, in this case a billionaire.
The offensive dates back to August 2024: This Frenchman who has lived in Switzerland for twenty years stands out at 77 km/h on a wheel in Lausana limited to 50 km/h.
“A higher than almost 30 km/h, which qualifies its offense as a serious violation of the traffic rules,” summarizes the Swiss media 24 hours.
40 days a stay with suspended
In France, it would have received a fine of 135 euros, with the withdrawal of two points in the license, the sanction provided an excess between 20 and 30 km/h.
For our Frenchman, which is one of the 300 richest personalities living in Switzerland, the case ends in the office of a public prosecutor of the District of Lausana, which establishes the sanction to the 40 “amended days” to 2,000 Swiss francs per unit, a total of 80,000 francs. A prayer accompanied by a three -year stay: if he does not commit any new crime during this period, the French questioned will not have to pay what he currently represents almost 85,000 euros.
It still receives an additional fine of 10,000 Swiss francs, or 10,600 euros, which will be paid immediately. This already represents an amount 78 times greater than what I would have paid for the same crime in France.
It is the addition of the two quantities that gives this sanction, therefore, of around 95,000 euros for this surplus of 27 km/h.
A similar crime committed eight years ago
Detail that may have played against our French motorist, had already been convicted of equivalent speed … eight years ago. At that time, he had received a fine of 60,000 francs, with a two -year stay, and there also a fine of 10,000 francs to pay immediately.
A lasting recurrence that could have received a heavier sanction, with an amount of the previous day that can vary from 30 to 3,000 Swiss francs. Or, if we take more than 40 days of excess of 27 km/h, a sentence that can be estimated between 1,270 and 120,000 euros.
Great difference in sanctions according to income
But the Swiss Criminal Code actually leaves an additional room to maneuver the judge. The minimum amount of more than 1,200 euros for this crime may seem excessive for a person with modest income.
“The judge can exceptionally, when the author’s personal and economic situation justifies it, reduce the amount of day-to a minimum of 10 francs,” said article 34 of the Swiss Criminal Code.
An amount of the good day that varies “according to the author’s personal and economic situation at the time of the trial, in particular taking into account his income and his fortune, his lifestyle, his assistance obligations, in particular the family and the vital minimum,” specifies this text.
With between 3 and 180 days of amendment, therefore, we can have in theory a sanction between around 32 euros … and more than 570,000 euros.
Without reaching such an amount, a rich Swiss driver had received a fine of 108,500 francs, or just over 115,000 euros in September 2024, for not having respected safety distances, Le Figaro recalls.
Source: BFM TV
