Switzerland imposes fines on wealthy drivers for speeding violations

• A driver in Lozanna received a fine of 90,000 francs for exceeding the speed limit.
• Fines in Switzerland depend on the income and assets of the offender.
• This incident is not the first, as wealthy drivers often receive large fines.

In the Swiss city of Lozanna, a driver exceeded the speed limit by 27 km/h (17 mph) and is now facing a possible fine of 90,000 Swiss francs (over 110,000 dollars). This fine is particularly significant as the driver is one of the wealthiest individuals in Switzerland, and in the canton of Vaud, fines are determined based on the offender's declared income and assets.

Switzerland is not the only country that imposes fines based on financial status. Germany, France, Austria, and Scandinavian countries also apply similar approaches. It is worth noting that this fine is not a record for Switzerland: in 2010, a millionaire driving a Ferrari received a fine of nearly 290,000 dollars for speeding.

According to new regulations, a person without financial means can face a fine instead of paying the penalty, while the wealthiest may receive fines in the tens of thousands of francs. A court in the canton of Vaud ruled that the driver must pay 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,300) immediately, while the remaining 80,000 will be further increased for similar violations over the next three years.

According to information published in the newspaper "24 Heures", the driver, whose name was not disclosed, is a French citizen included in the list of 300 wealthiest individuals in Switzerland with fortunes in the hundreds of millions of dollars. This incident became known after an automated police radar recorded that the driver was speeding at 77 km/h (48 mph) in a 50 km/h (31 mph) zone.

He did not challenge the court's decision, which was issued in red for violations committed in September 2024. The criminal code of the canton of Vaud establishes a maximum fine based on "the individual's and economic situation of the offender at the moment of the decision".

Tags: Europe/Automotive