Criminal law

Where do I cross the road? In Switzerland, the Road Traffic Act (LCR) gives pedestrians priority over other traffic on the road when using a pedestrian crossing, as long as they don't cross unexpectedly. Pedestrians must use the crossings designated by the famous yellow stripes...

Car parks: who can issue which fines? "I read a while ago that municipal car park officers can issue tickets for new types of offence that were previously the responsibility of the police. What offences are these? When I left a car park, I turned into the wrong lane....

You can oppose a criminal court order" I read an article about criminal court orders for trespassing against people who fail to comply with bans on entering Swiss supermarkets. I am outraged by this procedure. Doesn't Article 6 of the ECHR state that everyone has the right...

I was refused a breathalyser! "The other evening, I went out for a couple of drinks with a friend. As I didn't have a car and had no intention of driving, I wanted to know what my blood alcohol level was, so that next time I'd know how much I'd had to drink....

Don't fall for it! I like to cycle in Geneva city centre, but I find that the signs are sometimes unclear. For example, on a street perpendicular to one of the quays bordering the Rhône, there's a sign saying "No cycling", but there's no reminder of...

My badge on a loaned car " I have a "badge" to park my car in the blue zone in my neighbourhood. However, the car is getting old and every time I have to leave it with my mechanic, I can't park any other replacement vehicle near my home because there's no parking space....

My child rides on the pavement... " As I was walking along the pavement with my 4-year-old daughter, a woman urged me to get her off her bike. I know that pavements are normally reserved for pedestrians. But what happens when it's a young child, given that he or she is...

Will my criminal record stand in my way? I got into some mischief when I was young, but that was over 15 years ago... I got a suspended prison sentence and I wonder if it still appears on my criminal record, from which I'll soon have to provide an extract for a new job...

Terrorist threat and Swiss laws "Stunned like everyone else by the tragic events that have taken place in France, I wonder whether Switzerland, which still claims to be a peaceful country, has the necessary legal arsenal to deal with the terrorist threat?" Philippe The people who have sown the seeds of...