Apparently the Swiss do not tolerate repeat offenders very well [leo]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8446545.stm# (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8446545.stm#)
A Swiss millionaire has been handed down a record speeding fine of $290,000 (£180,000) by a court.
The man was reportedly caught driving a red Ferrari Testarossa at 137km/h (85mph) through a village.
The penalty was calculated based on the unnamed motorist's wealth - assessed by the court as $22.7m (£14.1m) - and because he was a repeat offender.
It is more than double Switzerland's previous record speeding fine - handed to a Porsche driver in Zurich in 2008.
In the latest case, the motorist was clocked speeding 57km/h (35mph) faster than the limit, according to the cantonal court in St Gallen, eastern Switzerland.
"The accused ignored elementary traffic rules with a powerful vehicle out of a pure desire for speed," the court said in its judgement.
Swiss media reported that the man owns a villa with five luxury cars, including the Ferrari.
i know for a fact i do NOT speed in Switzerland. bad juju there. and this was before i read this.
I know for a fact that I have NEVER sped in Switzerland.
I also have never been to Switzerland. ;D
And don't forget that those little swiss gnomes also take a road tax for driving on thier roads as you pass through thier country on vacation [bang] and if you don't purchase it before your visit they'll catch you on the border :-[
[coffee]
wow..
for 85 mph
i wonder what the speed limit was, 5 mph???
nice photo of a testarossa [roll]
now I know why everyone takes the train!
Quote from: ducatiz on January 07, 2010, 09:41:43 AM
wow..
for 85 mph
i wonder what the speed limit was, 5 mph???
50, apparently. Talk about a repressive govt!
Quote from: swampduc on January 07, 2010, 10:25:34 AM
50, apparently. Talk about a repressive govt!
i don't know that that is repressive -- they just don't want you to speed and are serious about it.
i think that's better than the way its down most places in the USA -- dink you for a fine and it just works out to being a "speed tax" and no one really slows down.
ok a couple of things didn't match up in that story though.
no town speed limit is 80 kph unless it's a major road and then it was a school zone? an 85 kph school zone?
that fine is probably three times what the car is worth. :-X
Beats what the Swedish police do to you:
http://jalopnik.com/5442691/volvo-police-wagon-flips-mounts-fleeing-audi (http://jalopnik.com/5442691/volvo-police-wagon-flips-mounts-fleeing-audi)
Quote from: Ducaholic on January 07, 2010, 11:48:44 AM
that fine is probably three times what the car is worth. :-X
I don't know where but I thought I heard that their vehicle taxes are insanely high there (around half the car's value or more).
Quote from: swampduc on January 07, 2010, 10:25:34 AM
50, apparently. Talk about a repressive govt!
That is a tad over 30 MPH. The speed limit in a residential area is 25 MPH. That doesn't seem too bad for a speed limit through a village.
Fines are also proportional to income as well I believe. No cheap penalties for anyone apparently.
Quote from: D Paoli on January 07, 2010, 02:41:37 PM
That is a tad over 30 MPH. The speed limit in a residential area is 25 MPH. That doesn't seem too bad for a speed limit through a village.
no the article described it as 50 mph not 50 kph
If the Swiss mirror the Germans on "B" roads the limit is 100 kph outside of town, 50 kph in town. People apply their brakes hard to get down to 50 kph. Same with contruction zones on the autobahn 80 kph and no one pushes it, once you see the circle with the grey stripes, pedal to the mat [evil].
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 07, 2010, 01:26:20 PM
Beats what the Swedish police do to you:
http://jalopnik.com/5442691/volvo-police-wagon-flips-mounts-fleeing-audi (http://jalopnik.com/5442691/volvo-police-wagon-flips-mounts-fleeing-audi)
:o yikes
Rode in Switzerland 20 years ago on a rented Kawi Concours. Was 2 up with my wife at the time so she wouldn't let me go too fast. I was clipping along pretty good, certainly over the posted speed limit and got pulled over by two Swiss cops. They spoke English pretty well but when they found out we were from Texas they got all goofy and friendly and they each took photos standing next to us and the bike. We were no longer motorcycle riding speeders from the US... we were Texans! [laugh] My wife was smart enough to bring along some western style/cowboy bandannas as give away gifts. We gave each cop a bandanna for being so nice. They went nuts! You would have thought we had given them an expensive Stetson and ostrich skin cowboy boots along with a horse and a single action Colt!! Cracked me up! Still one of my best Swiss memories and one of the best "pulled over by a cop" stories I have. ;D Needless to say they let us go! [thumbsup]