Swiss court fines speeding millionaire $290,000

TL · 01-08-2010, 10:42 AM

Wow

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland – A Swiss court has slapped a wealthy speeder with a chalet-sized fine — a full $290,000.

Judges at the cantonal court in St. Gallen, in eastern Switzerland, based the record-breaking fine on the speeder's estimated wealth of over $20 million.

A statement on the court's Web site says the driver — a repeat offender — drove up to 35 miles an hour (57 kilometers an hour) faster than the 50-mile-an-hour (80-kilometer-an-hour) limit.

Court clerk Heidi Baumann-Becker said Thursday the unidentified driver can appeal the decision, handed down in November, to the Swiss supreme court.

The Blick daily newspaper in Zurich reported the fine was more than twice the previous Swiss record of about $107,000.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100107/..._speeding_fine

E92-Lighting · 01-08-2010, 11:14 AM

pretty hefty fine

Blake · 01-08-2010, 11:18 AM

the swiss don't take speeding lightly.

Kensta335 · 01-08-2010, 11:35 AM

Damn, if Bill Gates got caught speeding there his ticket is probably going to cost 5 billion.

Ron1n · 01-08-2010, 11:53 AM

That's just ridiculous.

jibaholic101 · 01-08-2010, 06:50 PM

why? where do they get a right to levy a tax like that?

Buegie · 01-08-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibaholic101

why? where do they get a right to levy a tax like that?

Swiss law states that the fines are directly based on how much money you make. The more I learn about other countries, the more I love this one.

SantaPimp27 · 01-08-2010, 07:22 PM

there should without a doubt be a limit on the tax. say 10k or something. even if you have 20 million bucks, 290k is a lot

Nawaaz · 01-08-2010, 07:31 PM

That's pure insane.

It's better to just go to the track when you feel like speeding, and save the future fines as well.

I could teach myself the same thing though.

Scorpion · 01-08-2010, 07:42 PM

That should be pocket change for him lol.

hks786 · 01-08-2010, 08:16 PM

That does seem excessive but meh, everywhere has different laws.

cotenseto · 01-09-2010, 10:03 AM

The theory behind this is not bad actually, but the execution in this case is poor. Think about it... people who are the "elite" mega rich, could care less about $1000 fines, where as your average joe would really feel the pinch.

There needs to be some kind of upper limit though. $290k is plain ridiculous. I don't have a net worth anywhere near $20MM, but if I did, I would still cringe at the idea of a $20k ticket.

c

01-08-2010, 10:42 AM	#1
TL Brigadier General 283 Rep 3,102 Posts Drives: Happy on H&R coil overs Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Hub iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 335xi [1.00]	Swiss court fines speeding millionaire $290,000 Wow ST. GALLEN, Switzerland – A Swiss court has slapped a wealthy speeder with a chalet-sized fine — a full $290,000. Judges at the cantonal court in St. Gallen, in eastern Switzerland, based the record-breaking fine on the speeder's estimated wealth of over $20 million. A statement on the court's Web site says the driver — a repeat offender — drove up to 35 miles an hour (57 kilometers an hour) faster than the 50-mile-an-hour (80-kilometer-an-hour) limit. Court clerk Heidi Baumann-Becker said Thursday the unidentified driver can appeal the decision, handed down in November, to the Swiss supreme court. The Blick daily newspaper in Zurich reported the fine was more than twice the previous Swiss record of about $107,000. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100107/..._speeding_fine __________________ 2008 E92 335xi ------->Links to my Mods: H&R Street Performance Coil Overs \|\| 19" Alufelgen CS7 \|\| Interior Swap: Black to Coral Red My Website \|\| My Flickr \|\| My Tumblr \|\| My Twitter\|\| My Facebook\|\| My 500px
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-08-2010, 11:14 AM	#2
E92-Lighting 858 Rep 35,253 Posts Drives: Next Generation LED Lighting Join Date: May 2008 Location: Walnut iTrader: (324)	pretty hefty fine
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-08-2010, 11:18 AM	#3
Blake Banned 755 Rep 4,649 Posts Drives: Chevy Aveo Join Date: May 2008 Location: Parent's Basement iTrader: (7)	the swiss don't take speeding lightly.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-08-2010, 11:35 AM	#4
Kensta335 Brigadier General 161 Rep 3,637 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: So Cal 626 iTrader: (4)	Damn, if Bill Gates got caught speeding there his ticket is probably going to cost 5 billion.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-08-2010, 11:53 AM	#5
Ron1n Speed Demon 205 Rep 3,690 Posts Drives: 2021 M5C Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Irvine iTrader: (6) Garage List 2021 M5 Competition [0.00] 2016 BMW 550i [0.00] 2011 335is [0.00] 2009 E93 M3 [10.00] 2010 335d [9.50]	That's just ridiculous. __________________ Current: '21 M5C, '15 X6 50i Previous: '18 M550i, '16 550i, '11 335is, '09 E93 M3 DCT, '10 E90 335d, '07 E90 328i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-08-2010, 06:50 PM	#6
jibaholic101 Brigadier General 159 Rep 3,496 Posts Drives: women wild Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	why? where do they get a right to levy a tax like that? __________________ some italian, german, and japanese ones; and on order more of the same
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-08-2010, 07:22 PM	#8
SantaPimp27 Lieutenant 37 Rep 412 Posts Drives: Slow homie Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jersey iTrader: (1)	there should without a doubt be a limit on the tax. say 10k or something. even if you have 20 million bucks, 290k is a lot __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-08-2010, 07:31 PM	#9
Nawaaz Brigadier General 221 Rep 4,643 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: . iTrader: (0)	That's pure insane. It's better to just go to the track when you feel like speeding, and save the future fines as well. I could teach myself the same thing though.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-08-2010, 07:42 PM	#10
Scorpion Major 162 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: Nothing Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nowhere iTrader: (0)	That should be pocket change for him lol.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-08-2010, 08:16 PM	#11
hks786 Major General 2169 Rep 5,364 Posts Drives: * Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	That does seem excessive but meh, everywhere has different laws. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-09-2010, 10:03 AM	#12
cotenseto Private First Class 1 Rep 117 Posts Drives: B6 S4 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Greater Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	The theory behind this is not bad actually, but the execution in this case is poor. Think about it... people who are the "elite" mega rich, could care less about $1000 fines, where as your average joe would really feel the pinch. There needs to be some kind of upper limit though. $290k is plain ridiculous. I don't have a net worth anywhere near $20MM, but if I did, I would still cringe at the idea of a $20k ticket. c __________________ 05 S4 4.2 6 spd 07 A3 3.2 - Wifey's
	Appreciate 0 Quote