Crossing a white line by bike
Crossing a white line by bike
"Last week, I crossed a white line in a locality by swerving my bike left to get off the main road. I've been doing this for years and didn't realise that the line was continuous and that I was supposed to go all the way to the end of the road so that I could go back and swerve. I've been 'stuck' by the gendarmerie, what am I risking?"
Béatrice, Geneva
According to art. 73 of the Road Traffic Ordinance, safety lines (continuous, white) mark the centre of the carriageway or delimit the traffic lanes. Safety lines are also used to delimit the carriageway or traffic lanes from railway tracks. It is forbidden for vehicles to cross or encroach on safety lines and double safety lines.
In principle, breaches of federal road traffic regulations can be punished by a fine imposed under the simplified procedure provided for in the law on fines. In the canton of Geneva, the gendarmerie, parking inspectors attached to the police, other uniformed officers of the police force with powers of authority, municipal security officers and municipal agents are competent to impose the fines provided for by federal legislation on road users. Certain employees of the Car Parks Foundation are also authorised to impose parking fines.
According to the ordinance on fines (appendix 1; no. 618), crossing a safety line in a locality while cycling is punishable by a fine of CHF 40. In principle, this bad experience will end with you paying this fine.
However, if you have endangered or injured people or caused material damage, or if you are accused of having committed an offence that is not on the list of fines, the simplified procedure provided for in the law on fines will no longer apply, but ordinary criminal law and criminal procedure - with the consequence that you will no longer remain anonymous and will have to be reported to the administrative authorities.
