Criminal law

Recording without consent Such behaviour is hardly acceptable in Switzerland, where Article 179bis of the Swiss Penal Code punishes with up to three years' imprisonment anyone who, without the consent of all participants, eavesdrops with a device or records on a sound carrier an unauthorised conversation....

Speeding Two different procedures may be initiated when road traffic offences are committed, in particular for drink-driving or speeding: a criminal procedure aimed at punishing illegal behaviour with a penalty that may be a fine, a ticket, a pecuniary penalty...

Obligation to testify Legal adviceCriminal proceedingsDivorcedivorce&people&familyWritten byIdeative "My brother-in-law is the subject of criminal proceedings against him, in which my testimony is required. I'm very uncomfortable with the idea and would like to know whether I'm obliged to go to a hearing. "L, Lausanne The circle of participants in criminal proceedings...

Road traffic: the same rules for everyone? "I cycle a lot and I wanted to know to what extent the highway code applies to bicycles too. Do I have to follow the same road signs? And can I ride on the pavement?" Andrea, Geneva Under article 1 paragraph...

Dog injured by a neighbour: who pays the vet? "The other day, my neighbour broke into my garden to get a football. I don't normally mind this at all, except that this time he hit my dog because it was playing with his ball, which supposedly costs a lot of money.The...

What exactly is a day's fine? "I was convicted of driving a motor vehicle without a driving licence. My learner's licence had expired a month earlier. I was given a suspended sentence of 20 day fines for 2 years and a fine of CHF 200.

Watch out for the left turn indicator at roundabouts" Mum-in-law was stopped by the police for failing to turn left at a roundabout! She was fined CHF 150, which she had to pay in cash on the spot when she was stopped. I'm really surprised. Is this really legal? Hugo, Vaud The...

Parking your motorbike in a car space? "I ride my motorbike. I had an appointment in the town centre and all the spaces reserved for 2-wheelers were occupied, so I parked in a white space. When I got back, I was amazed to find that a contractual employee had fined me, invoking article 253a of the...

Surprise fine... " I've received a parking fine at home even though I've never found a parking ticket on the windscreen of my car. How is this possible?" Joëlle, Geneva If the fine you've received is for parking your car incorrectly, you've received a parking fine. This...