They have been known to keep the record on file and arrest you at the airport the next time you set foot in country ... Happened to someone I know.
I'd pay up if you ever want to return, the swiss don't fook around, it's only fine ££ so what's the hardship !
the fine i would be looking at would be a few grand. i could live with never going back to Switzerland again
Few grand... What the hell were you doing? I looked into fines as myself got caught in a hire car but the hire company just said that they'll write and say they didn't know who was driving and that they (police) would just forget it as not worth the the hassle chasing it due to costs and signed delivery postage etc.. Also they aren't connected to the DVLA as we don't share our information with other countries.
well they thought it was in their interest to trace my car reg and send me a letter. fines over a certain speed are worked out as a % of your salary so can get expensive.
I literally shock when I noticed a police motorcylist behind me when last over there. I tend to think the officer bust out laughing seeing a biker ahead violently shake noticing him in the mirror. I thankfully was in touring mindset but jeybus they have awarded their citizens some chronic speeding fines! Highest fine I've heard of was well over £100,000K. Based on speed, your salary & the cost of the vehicle you are using to break the law.
How would they get his address from just his registration number then? I would suggest that if a fine is in the thousands then they may think that it is worth chasing.
Go to France, drive up to the Swiss border, show your letter to the border guards and do the following................
20 cars went last year and at least 5 of us have been caught by the same camera up to now. One lad got 27 days pay fine plus costs but has been suspended for 2yr and had I pay 1100CHF fine and costs others are waiting for their fine
Your license is safe as there is no reciprocal penalty arrangement with the U.K........but, they will chase you for the fine via debt collection agency...........they clearly have your address. I had similar in Germany the other year, although it was via hertz car hire so address/driver data was clearly recorded.
My question still stands, how did they get his address? Saying Schengen agreement means nothing as that is something that the UK is not part of and has nothing to do with accessing DVLA data.
I've read that they get your contact details simply by asking DVLA who the registered keeper of the plate is. They then hound you and, if you don't pay, you get a criminal record in Switzerland and the financial penalty is cranked up even higher if they do manage to get you in court. I think that, depending on how much over you were, you might already be a crim over there. It looks like you either take your lumps and pay or keep your money and take your chances. I think I should stay out of Switzerland. I don't have the self control.
My mate took the baffle out the zorst and got a 740£ fine from the swizzle police. DVLA is a business, if requested they will pass your details over for a FEE.
I would imagine the Swiss authorities have no recourse if you don't answer their letter. It's the law in the UK that you have to provide details, it may even be the law in Switzerland. But, you aren't in Switzerland, so what can they do? Let them send their letters and file them in the bin, I wouldn't be losing any sleep over it. I can't imagine a debt collection agency being instructed if no details have been provided, who are they going to attempt to collect money from? They haven't been through the UK court system. At the moment all they have is a name connected to a registration number. It's a form of intimidation to hope you'll pay. If you are a reular visitor to Switzerland and feel it might cause problems in the future, then you may want to look into it. But if your not going back, as above.
Everyone who was caught has it is paying so far but they all go back every year I would like to keep going back but at the cost of thousands could live without it thanks.
