A high-profile speeding case in Switzerland has sparked global attention after one of the country’s wealthiest residents was hit with a fine of up to 90,000 Swiss francs (over $110,000) for exceeding the speed limit in Lausanne.
According to court documents, the driver, a French citizen listed by Swiss business magazine Bilan among the 300 richest people in Switzerland with a fortune in the hundreds of millions, was clocked at 77 kilometers per hour (48 mph) in a 50 kph (31 mph) zone. The offense took place in August 2024 and was captured by an automated radar system.
Switzerland’s traffic laws are unique in that fines are calculated based on a driver’s income, wealth, lifestyle, and family financial situation. The approach is designed to make penalties proportionate to a person’s financial standing, ensuring that both low-income and high-income offenders face consequences with equal impact.
This income-based penalty system isn’t exclusive to Switzerland, countries such as Germany, France, Austria, and several Nordic nations follow similar models. In extreme cases, such as in 2010, a millionaire Ferrari driver in Switzerland paid a record fine of about $290,000 for speeding.
Under the rules in Vaud canton, the wealthy motorist in this case must pay an upfront sum of 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,300) immediately. If he commits another similar offense within three years, he will be liable for an additional 80,000 francs ($97,000).
Court records reveal the man had previously been fined 10,000 francs eight years ago for a similar offense, with the threat of a 60,000-franc penalty if he reoffended within two years. This time, prosecutors acted swiftly. “The defendant didn’t contest the decision,” confirmed Vincent Derouand, spokesperson for the Vaud public prosecutors office.
The law in Vaud canton allows judges to hand down penalties that reflect an offender’s “personal and economic situation” at the time of the ruling. While wealthier drivers can face six-figure fines, lower-income offenders may receive reduced penalties — or even short jail terms — in lieu of payment.
Notably, even police officers have been caught by the same laws. In 2016, an officer in Geneva was fined after racing at nearly twice the legal speed limit while pursuing suspects who had blown up a bank teller machine.
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