Criminal law

What does walking mean? "We're a walking group of about 20 people. Opinions differ as to which way you should walk on a road with traffic and no pavement. What's the difference? Christiane, Carouge Schoolteachers generally teach small children that they should walk on the left-hand side of the road...

Is it illegal to photograph drug dealers? Is it legal to photograph people carrying out illegal activities in the street and post these images on a social network? What are the risks? JF, Geneva Personal rights are protected by article 28 of the Civil Code, which generally prohibits any infringement of these rights,...

Can you call someone crazy with impunity? When someone is told they are crazy, can they lodge a complaint? If so, how far can the complaint go? Marc, Chavannes According to article 177 of the Criminal Code, anyone who, by word, writing, image, gesture or by any other means, insults a person is punishable by...

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....