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Practical legal guide · Switzerland

Fine from Switzerland: do I have to pay it? Alcohol limits and penalties

Fined in Switzerland or stopped by Swiss police? Switzerland is not in the EU, so the EU rules on data exchange and enforcing fines do not apply to it. A driver without a home in Switzerland must still pay the fine at once or post a deposit. Very high speed can mean prison.

Describe your case

Updated and verified:

Short answer

  1. Without a Swiss address, pay at once or post a deposit
  2. The EU rules on enforcing fines do not apply to Switzerland
  3. Extreme speeding can mean 1 to 4 years in prison

The alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille, 0.1 for novice and professional drivers. Find a lawyer on LawBridge.

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Quick answers

Do I have to pay a fine from Switzerland?
Yes, if it is justified. Switzerland is not an EU member, so the EU rules on exchanging vehicle-register data and on enforcing fines do not apply to it. We found no Swiss–Czech treaty on enforcing traffic fines. A driver without a home in Switzerland must still pay the fine at once or post a deposit.
What is the alcohol limit in Switzerland?
0.5 per mille in the blood (0.25 mg/l in the breath); from 0.8 per mille it is a crime with up to 3 years in prison or a monetary penalty. Probationary licence holders, professional drivers, driving instructors and learners have a 0.1 per mille limit (0.05 mg/l in the breath).
How much is a speeding fine in Switzerland?
After deducting the measuring tolerance: in town 1–5 km/h over CHF 40, 6–10 km/h CHF 120, 11–15 km/h CHF 250. Outside town 1–5 km/h CHF 40, 6–10 km/h CHF 100, 11–15 km/h CHF 160, 16–20 km/h CHF 240. On the motorway from CHF 20 for 1–5 km/h to CHF 260 for 21–25 km/h. Anything higher goes to ordinary criminal proceedings.

When this situation arises

  • You received a letter with a fine from Switzerland for speeding, parking or another offence
  • Police in Switzerland stopped you and want a fine or a deposit on the spot
  • You face a driving ban or criminal proceedings in Switzerland for alcohol or high speed

What options do you have

Pay the fine

If you accept the offence, pay within the deadline in the letter or on the spot. Keep the proof of payment.

Challenge it in Switzerland

If you disagree, file an objection or appeal with the authority that issued the fine, within its deadline. The case follows the law of Switzerland.

A lawyer in Switzerland

In criminal proceedings for alcohol or high speed, the defence follows Swiss law, ideally with a local lawyer.

Recommended step-by-step process

  1. 1.

    Check the letter

    Check the date, place, registration number, the authority that issued the fine and the deadline to pay or object.

  2. 2.

    Decide before the deadline

    Pay, or challenge it in time with the authority in Switzerland.

  3. 3.

    Keep the proof of payment

    It shows the fine is paid if anyone tries to enforce it again.

  4. 4.

    A lawyer for a serious offence

    Alcohol, high speed or an accident can mean criminal proceedings in Switzerland. A lawyer helps with the defence and with what follows in the Czech Republic.

What documents to prepare

  • The fine letter or decision and the envelope with the date of delivery
  • Vehicle registration certificate and driving licence
  • Proof of payment of the fine or deposit
  • Photos, witnesses or a recording from the scene if you dispute the offence

Common mistakes

  • Ignoring the letter because nobody will enforce a foreign fine
  • Missing the deadline to object abroad
  • Assuming nobody will enforce a Swiss fine, then meeting an open case on the next trip

Risks and important deadlines

Prison for speeding

Extreme speeding in Switzerland can bring 1 to 4 years in prison and loss of the right to drive in Switzerland.

Licence taken on the spot

If a driver is unfit or not allowed to drive, the police stop the car and take the licence.

Short deadlines

The deadlines to pay and to object are set by Switzerland and are often short.

When it's worth contacting a lawyer

When you face criminal proceedings in Switzerland for alcohol or speed, loss of the right to drive there, or cannot post a deposit. A lawyer looks at the defence under Swiss law. On LawBridge, a search engine for lawyers, you can find a traffic lawyer and describe your situation in a request. Legal services are always paid.

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Frequently asked questions

When is speeding a crime with prison in Switzerland?

When you exceed the limit by at least 40 km/h where it is 30 km/h, by 50 km/h where it is 50, by 60 km/h where it is 80 and by 80 km/h where it is above 80. It can bring 1 to 4 years in prison; since 2023 the court can reduce it and give people with no record for 10 years a monetary penalty.

Does a Swiss driving ban apply in the Czech Republic?

Switzerland does not withdraw a foreign licence but removes your right to drive with it in Switzerland, and informs the authority that issued the licence. The EU rules under which driving bans will be notified between EU states from 26 November 2029 do not apply to Switzerland.

What if I have no Swiss motorway vignette?

The fine is CHF 200. If you do not pay it within 30 days, the Swiss customs office prosecutes the case.

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