Why some Germans don’t pay their fines in Switzerland – and the consequences of this government in Bern are paving the way for more hydropower on the Grimsel

It is a bad feeling when a red piece of paper under the windshield wiper of a car gets stuck in front of the expired parking meter, or when the tin box, recognized too late, flashes on the side of the country road after the 80 km / h sign. Then that mixture of being caught in disbelief and anger arises.

Mail from the office follows. The amount stated in the payment request is paid with understanding, grumbling or default, but usually at the latest after the first reminder. This also applies to traffic fines from France, Italy and many other countries for people living in Germany. Only tickets that people living in Switzerland received in Germany are often not paid for and end up in the trash.

There is no implementation agreement

The reason: there is no enforcement agreement between Germany and Switzerland in fine cases. Authorities in both countries cannot enforce payment requests in the neighboring country after traffic violations. Therefore, ignoring traffic rules can be superficially without consequences. But especially residents of the border region should not ignore fines from the neighboring country.

According to the Karlsruhe Regional Council, in 2021, of the 50,949 fine procedures for traffic violations on motorways, about one in five, exactly 10,479 cases, were not completed by payment, but in some other way, for example by statute of limitations.

The number of Swiss cases among them is probably significant. In Switzerland, too, many violations by German drivers are time-barred. A 2019 study for the Canton of Zurich concluded that 87.5 percent of cases terminated by statute of limitations were committed by foreigners, 68.9 percent by people living abroad.

Ignoring the demand for a fine is not without risk. Certainly not for people who often move into the neighboring country. The competent public prosecutor’s office presumably initiated proceedings against him after the payment terms had expired. If the person concerned is caught during an identity check at the border or in the interior, the police or border officials check whether something is wrong.

At worst, jail awaits

If a fine is openly demanded, the traffic offender is made aware of this and a writ of execution is sent to the public prosecutor, which he must sign at a police station. He can usually pay the amount plus a fee of at least 200 to 300 francs on the spot. However, he can also waive immediate payment and leave the country with the order subject to periodic penalty payments recognized by him.

If the suspect also does not comply with the punishment order, it can be very uncomfortable for him if he is checked again after a subsequent entry into Switzerland. Because the authorities then demand payment of the fine. If the traffic offender still refuses or is unable to do so, there is even the possibility of an alternative prison sentence. (aargauerzeitung.ch)