Unlike in the U.S., where the maximum fine for tailgating is up to $500, in Switzerland, fines are based on the offender’s income...
One millionaire lawyer learned this the hard way when he was fined a staggering $110,000 for tailgating in his $60,000 BMW.
Known for the Alps, Swiss cheese, and luxury watches, Switzerland is also notorious for its strict traffic laws. This incident occurred on the A1 motorway near Zurich, where the 58-year-old lawyer was driving too close to the vehicle ahead, maintaining a distance of just 8 to 12 meters at speeds up to 120 kilometers per hour over a stretch of 2.4 kilometers. According to traffic laws in some U.S. states, the minimum safe following distance should be around 6 meters for every 16 kilometers per hour, meaning the lawyer should have kept a distance of at least 42 meters.
What makes this fine unusual is the way Switzerland calculates penalties. In this case, the court ordered the lawyer to pay a conditional fine consisting of 50 daily rates, with each rate amounting to $2,328. The wealthier the offender, the higher the fine. The lawyer’s net worth was estimated at around $2 million, which brought him close to the maximum penalty.
On top of this daily fine, the lawyer was hit with an additional penalty of $18,000 in case he fails to pay the original amount. This added burden highlights how seriously Switzerland takes traffic violations, especially when it involves wealthy individuals.
In Switzerland, there’s little room for error when it comes to traffic enforcement, and even minor infractions can result in serious financial consequences. Drivers must be especially cautious, as even driving 3 kilometers per hour over the speed limit can result in a fine. For the lawyer in this case, one careless moment turned into a very expensive drive through the Swiss landscape.
