- The fine was calculated based on the driver’s annual taxable income of over $1.7 million.
- Switzerland is one of several countries that determine traffic fines based on income.
- In 2023, a Finnish driver was fined over $127,000 for driving 51 mph in a 31 mph zone.
No one wants to mess with traffic laws in Switzerland, unless they have a deep appreciation for financial pain. The country is infamous for its strict enforcement and staggering fines, which can turn a minor violation into a wallet-draining disaster.
Recently, a local millionaire was fined nearly $110,000 for tailgating on a motorway, a penalty he later contested in court. That’s not a typo. In many places, that’s a solid annual salary, but in Switzerland, it’s just the price of being rich and following too closely.
Read: Why A Finnish Driver Was Fined $130,000 After Being Caught Speeding 20 MPH Over Limit
While authorities have not released footage or images of the man tailgating to the public, he was sent to court and slapped with a 50-day fine of 1,970 francs per day (equal to about $2,200 at current exchange rates). That brought the total to 98,500 Swiss francs, or about $109,500. The reason for the eye-watering amount? The fine was calculated based on his annual taxable income of 1.6 million francs (around $1.8 million).
When Your Salary Determines Your Ticket Price
In Switzerland, and some select other European countries, traffic fines aren’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, they’re based on a driver’s income, a system designed to make sure fines actually hurt, whether you’re living paycheck to paycheck or sipping champagne in a penthouse. After all, a $300 ticket might wreck the monthly budget of someone earning minimum wage, but for a millionaire, it’s just an inconvenient rounding error.
Beyond the hefty fine, the Swiss court also ordered the man to pay 13,000 francs (~$14,500) in court fees, according to 20Min. The driver disputed the punishment after the initial ruling last year, but the court rejected his plea after looking at photos provided by police that showed him tailgating. There is a silver lining, though—he won’t actually have to cough up the $110,000 unless he racks up another violation in the next two years.
Switzerland’s History of Insane Traffic Fines
Switzerland isn’t new to headline-grabbing traffic fines. Back in 2010, a Swiss man was slapped with a jaw-dropping $290,000 speeding ticket for pushing his Ferrari a little too hard. More recently, in 2023, a Finnish driver was fined a staggering €121,000 (~$127,000) after getting clocked at 51 mph (82 km/h) in a 31 mph (50 km/h) zone.
What do you think of Switzerland’s income-based fine system? Is it a fair way to ensure penalties actually deter bad driving, or does it unfairly target the wealthy? Would you want to see it in your country? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
