speeding ticket in SWITZERLAND

[sameermd1]

Speeding Ticket

so i went to europe last summer....rented a nice brand new peugot....and sped away. Went all over the place...no troubles....however about 3 months after i got back...i get a speeding ticket in the mail from (what i have finally figured out to be) switzerland. I have since gotten a second notice.

Anyone know the consequences of not paying?

ACtually...i wouldnt mind just paying it..but its not that easy...i need to transfer money into a IBAN (international bank account ). This is not so easy...i have talked to my bank..they "think" they can do it..but will charge $50...the ticket is 80 euros...which is like 120 bucks.....

any ideas?

 

[sameermd1]

so i went to europe last summer....rented a nice brand new peugot....and sped away. Went all over the place...no troubles....however about 3 months after i got back...i get a speeding ticket in the mail from (what i have finally figured out to be) switzerland. I have since gotten a second notice.

Anyone know the consequences of not paying?

ACtually...i wouldnt mind just paying it..but its not that easy...i need to transfer money into a IBAN (international bank account ). This is not so easy...i have talked to my bank..they "think" they can do it..but will charge $50...the ticket is 80 euros...which is like 120 bucks.....

any ideas?

 

[Bryan330i]

I don't think there is anything they can do unless you go back there or go to another area where they have reciprocity.

You could just pay it but i would just take the exchange rate and buy that in US funds and send a cashiers check and let them deal with the rest. They should have no problem with getting the money this way.

 

[daihard]

I might just go ahead and send them $100 US (80 euro) in cash. I'm sure they could change it to the Swiss currency over there...

 

[epj3]

I would be careful doing that though -- if they DONt, then you wasted 100 bucks, and they probably would not accept it.

 

[daihard]

I would be careful doing that though -- if they DONt, then you wasted 100 bucks, and they probably would not accept it.

How about sending them a cashier's cheque, then? They should give the OP a little slack; he didn't even know he had sped until he received the ticket back in the U.S.

 

[Wadula]

i´d be carefull with cheques. they absolutely uncommon in europe. mostly all transactions regarding business are done by wire. all others are cash or card. no one uses cheques anymore. actually the euro cheque (usabel all over europe) got dumped a few years ago.

don´t you have friend or relative that can make the wire transferfor you and you send him cash that he can change at his local bank?

 

[daihard]

i´d be carefull with cheques. they absolutely uncommon in europe. mostly all transactions regarding business are done by wire. all others are cash or card. no one uses cheques anymore. actually the euro cheque (usabel all over europe) got dumped a few years ago.

You guys are way too advanced over there...

 

[ThinkingBMW]

Can you contact them online somehow (website or email) and give them a credit card number? That would appear to be the easiest solution for everyone.

 

[Wadula]

daihard, it is just practical. i hated it to stand in line at my local korger and have the nice 87 years old lady pay with a cheque for a box of tampax and trojans....heck it took forever...and for what???

 

[daihard]

daihard, it is just practical. i hated it to stand in line at my local korger and have the nice 87 years old lady pay with a cheque for a box of tampax and trojans....heck it took forever...and for what???

She could certainly dispense with tampax!

 

[Wadula]

yeah right...and i wonder what the trojan may be usefull for...could be a new timing belt i guess

 

[daihard]

yeah right...and i wonder what the trojan may be usefull for...could be a new timing belt i guess

Who knows... there may just be a young lad who's into old ladies...

 

[Wadula]

no way i will ever consider picturing that! no way....

 

[daihard]

no way i will ever consider picturing that! no way....

I know... Isn't it funny that the combination of an old guy and a young woman doesn't sound nearly as bad?

 

[sameermd1]

thanks guys....though i dont think i can send a check, and i hav been to there web site...no way to pay by credit card...i tihnk i might wait till next time i am in europe.

 

[suntigen]

Why don't you try contacting the Swiss Emabasy/Consulate in the US? The web addy is http://www.eda.admin.ch/washington_emb/e/home.html

The embassy is in Washington DC, and the Swisss government maintains a consolute in:

Atlanta
Chicago
Houston
Los Angeles
New York
San Francisco
Boston

I'm sure they can help you and I'm sure they speak English.

- matthewk

 

[suntigen]

It looks like you're in Arkansas, so your consulate would be in Houston.

Consulate General of Switzerland
Two Allen Center
1200 Smith St
Suite 1040
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 650-0000
vertretung@hou.rep.admin.ch

 

[sameermd1]

thanks for the info about the embassy...i am going to houston in a few weeks..will try it out.

 

[Wadula]

another suggestion from my side, don´t wait. the fine will increase. just give them an email explaining your problem and see what it tunrs out to be. it doesn´t take time to write an email you know.