Surprise fine...
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 have received is for parking your car incorrectly, you have received an order fine. This type of fine only applies to road traffic offences. The list of fines that can be imposed is set out in an appendix to the Ordonnance sur les amendes d'ordres. Under article 1 of the law on fines, the maximum amount of a fine is CHF 300. Even with the entry into force of the new law, the amount of fines does not vary according to the income of the person who has committed the offence; this only applies to more serious offences.
In practice, these fines are affixed to the windscreen of the badly parked car. If the fine is paid within 30 days, it remains anonymous and free of charge. On the other hand, if it is not paid, the fine becomes a ticket with additional costs of around CHF 30 to CHF 60. It then becomes a personal fine. If a prankster removes the ticket from the vehicle windscreen, as you may have done, there is no way of avoiding the fine, as there is no right to benefit from the simplified and less costly anonymous fine procedure.
There is also another way of getting a fine: denunciation, i.e. a notice of offence recorded by a person sworn in by the State. Such a person can notify the fines department directly that a vehicle has committed an offence. This service will send a request for identity to the owner of the vehicle to find out who was driving at the time. A ticket will be sent to the driver, automatically including the amount of the fine and any additional costs.
Fines can be contested in writing or in person at the fines department of the State of Geneva, within 30 days; the case will then be referred to the Police Court. However, if you are unsuccessful, you should be aware that you will have to pay the legal costs, which can be much higher than the amount of the fine!
