darrenhe

Rented a car from Hertz in Zurich. After I got back to the U.S., Hertz billed my credit card for two speeding tickets. The Swiss police later sent me two more tickets, asking for more money. Has anyone dealt with this before?

Dave Noble

The charges from Hertz were, I expect, the Hertz processing fees for providing the information to the authorities on who the driver was and unrelated to the cost of the fine. If you look at the rental contract , you should find details about Hertz's processing fees

The letters from the Swiss police are for the infringement itself

Dave

MatthewClement

Hope you weren't going too fast -- Swiss speeding tickets are not cheap!

Tomphot

Are you planning on going back to Zurich again?
What would happen if you filed the letter?

yashan

Can you share, rough ballpark figures if you prefer, what the Hertz processing charge was and how much the penalty is for speeding in Switzerland? Enquiring minds want to know...

MatthewClement

I can't speak to the administrative charges, but here's a guide to speeding fines in Switzerland.

yashan

Merlin666

I rentedin Zurich too, and Hertz charged me $40 administrative fee for an alleged "violation" in May. I have not heard from the Swiss authorities what this is supposed to be about.

WillTravel4Food

How do the Swiss do this? Is it all radar detected? I'll take it they also have a way to detect the license plate? And, will the police stop you to issue the ticket? This gives me a whole new appreciation for the Swiss desire for an orderly society.

MatthewClement

It's less about an orderly society and more about revenue generation from unsuspecting foreigners.

The vast majority of speed control is done by camera, using both radar and laser technology. Most of the cameras are fixed, and locals quickly learn where they're placed. These fixed cameras are supplemented by mobile speed patrols, where manned officers use portable cameras to snap your photo and speed. They're particularly fond of setting these traps just as you enter and just before you leave the country.

In most cases, the only way you'll know you've been caught is the tell-tale flash from the camera, although with the new infrared cameras, even that isn't so easy to spot. 2-3 weeks later (longer for foreigners, where there's more tracking down to do) you'll get a letter through the postbox with the bad news, and if the speed is high enough, a request for you to attend court and turn in your license.

One thing I've noticed since living in Switzerland is that people here really obey the limits. It's very rare to see a Swiss driver travelling much more than 10km beyond the speed limit -- most of the speed demons have foreign plates on their cars.

The drivers around Geneva have heavier feet than their counterparts in the German part of the country, and as a result the motorway coming out of Geneva is littered with speed cameras....

grteyes2

Well known that the Swiss do not tolerate speeding at all. Camera's and radar all over. Fines are very costly, even if say 5 mi over limit. Have no idea what yours are from. Do suggest paying them regardless. Do you have a Swiss DL, or using an IDP?

BTW, if speeding from radar if like in OZ no option to legally challenge and/or traffic school.

Jaimito Cartero

I've only gotten a speed camera ticket in NZ. Do the Swiss have a way to easily come after you if you reside outside their country? (Billing Hertz, etc?)

sba110

They can't come after you if you live abroad other than by having Hertz bill your CC. But - if you're planning to go back to Switzerland in the future, you better pay, otherwise you might be in for an unpleasant surprise when entering the country or if you get pulled over....

Jaimito Cartero

That is precisely what I asked. Do they have the authority to bill Hertz? Who in turn would bill you.

bmw745ion19s

with the advent of speed cameras and lack of actual officers ive heard of lots of people removing the license plates from their rental cars.

anyone here do this yet?