Swiss court fines speeding millionaire $290,000
01-07-10, 08:37 AM
#1
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Swiss court fines speeding millionaire $290,000
http://www.accessatlanta.com/celebri...xntlid=thbz_hm
ST. GALLEN, Switzerland — A Swiss court has slapped a wealthy speeder with a chalet-sized fine — a full $290,000.
Judges at the cantonal court in St. Gallen, in eastern Switzerland, based the record-breaking fine on the speeder's estimated wealth of over $20 million.
A statement on the court's Web site says the driver — a repeat offender — drove up to 35 miles an hour (57 kilometers an hour) faster than the 50-mile-an-hour (80-kilometer-an-hour) limit.
Court clerk Heidi Baumann-Becker said Thursday the unidentified driver can appeal the decision, handed down in November, to the Swiss supreme court.
The Blick daily newspaper in Zurich reported the fine was more than twice the previous Swiss record of about $107,000.
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January 07, 2010 10:51 AM EST
ST. GALLEN, Switzerland — A Swiss court has slapped a wealthy speeder with a chalet-sized fine — a full $290,000.
Judges at the cantonal court in St. Gallen, in eastern Switzerland, based the record-breaking fine on the speeder's estimated wealth of over $20 million.
A statement on the court's Web site says the driver — a repeat offender — drove up to 35 miles an hour (57 kilometers an hour) faster than the 50-mile-an-hour (80-kilometer-an-hour) limit.
Court clerk Heidi Baumann-Becker said Thursday the unidentified driver can appeal the decision, handed down in November, to the Swiss supreme court.
The Blick daily newspaper in Zurich reported the fine was more than twice the previous Swiss record of about $107,000.
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January 07, 2010 10:51 AM EST
01-07-10, 08:45 AM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
This case is obviously an exception, but, in general, fines mean little to wealthy people. Far more effective, IMO, is the prospect of loss of one's license.....and jail time if caught driving without one.
Even that, though can't deter some people. I once had a friend, with dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, who drove around, here in the U.S., on his Canadian license. He amassed dozens of speeding tickets and paid fines (he got to the point where I wouldn't ride with him anymore). But they couldn't take his license from him because it was Canadian.
Even that, though can't deter some people. I once had a friend, with dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, who drove around, here in the U.S., on his Canadian license. He amassed dozens of speeding tickets and paid fines (he got to the point where I wouldn't ride with him anymore). But they couldn't take his license from him because it was Canadian.
01-07-10, 08:57 AM
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The prospect of the Swiss handing over extreme fines to speeders has been in the news for quite some time in Europe. If I recall correctly, in Finland they have a similar method of fining speeders based on income.
I remember when I visited Switzerland for the first time a few months ago that I strictly stuck to the speed limits. I've heard all about how extreme their speeding fines are. If I was permitted to drive 120 kph I actually set cruise control at 137 kph just to be on the safe side. Their tolerance levels are unfamiliar to me, too. In Germany there is generally an overspeed tolerance of 7 kph. But just to be safe, I usually drive 3 kph over the given speed limit in Germany.
I remember when I visited Switzerland for the first time a few months ago that I strictly stuck to the speed limits. I've heard all about how extreme their speeding fines are. If I was permitted to drive 120 kph I actually set cruise control at 137 kph just to be on the safe side. Their tolerance levels are unfamiliar to me, too. In Germany there is generally an overspeed tolerance of 7 kph. But just to be safe, I usually drive 3 kph over the given speed limit in Germany.
01-07-10, 09:10 AM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
That wouldn't work here in the U.S. Unlike Switzerland, here, most traffic fines are meted out by each individual state, not the central government or centralized Canton courts, and fines, of course, are determined strictly by speed categories and the nature of the offense, not income. Judges are not allowed to add to the fine just because of income.
01-07-10, 11:29 AM
#7
Lexus Test Driver
This case is obviously an exception, but, in general, fines mean little to wealthy people. Far more effective, IMO, is the prospect of loss of one's license.....and jail time if caught driving without one.
Even that, though can't deter some people. I once had a friend, with dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, who drove around, here in the U.S., on his Canadian license. He amassed dozens of speeding tickets and paid fines (he got to the point where I wouldn't ride with him anymore). But they couldn't take his license from him because it was Canadian.
Even that, though can't deter some people. I once had a friend, with dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, who drove around, here in the U.S., on his Canadian license. He amassed dozens of speeding tickets and paid fines (he got to the point where I wouldn't ride with him anymore). But they couldn't take his license from him because it was Canadian.
Only place its safe for Quebecers to speed and just have to pay fines is in Hawaii.
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