speed cameras in geneva area

This is the future...
Ciao
Eugenio

 

I drove down through Switzerland back in July, I did Vallorbe - Lausanne - Martigny & onto the GSB pass into Italy. I got flashed a few times. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't driving like a lunatic; 140's mostly. Anyway, at first I was worried, but CH isn't even in the EU so I figured that with the UK registered car I was driving, the chances of the swiss traffic authorities tracking me down and me receiving a fine were very slim.

12 weeks later and no letters.

I live in London, and there are a lot of complaints about the foreign registered cars driving freely without paying the congestion charge, parking tickets etc. etc. The reason for the complaints is that there are a large number of these people actually resident for work, not as tourists.

So driving on foreign 'plates can be a good thing (if you are not actually physically stopped). But unfortunately, I have read that the EU states have passed a law for vehicle owner/registration information sharing regarding traffic offences. I have a German freind who has recieved a BIG fine from a Dutch speed camera so this already seems to be working between some countries. Soon there will be NO loopholes.

 

A brit in Switzerland might get away with it, but the EU countries have an agreement and Switzerland has an agreement with its direct neighbours. I was recently flashed in Italy. I was told it wiill take up to one year for the fine to arrive. If I don't pay it the details will be passed to the swiss authorities and it will be dealt with to swiss law.

 

I noticed!!!!

I drove to Geneva recently and I saw how obsessive they have become.

However, I am really pissed off about something else: in the evening I was driving to my hotel and I noticed how many cars bearing diplomatic plates just drive around at very high speeds totally ignoring limits in the Geneva area! A "diplomatic" Merc S600 AMG just blasted past a red light in a 50 Km/h limit area doing at least 80; later a similar Audi A8 just zapped past a line of traffic at 90 (limit 60); and on the motorway near the airport, where due to road works the limit is now an absurd 60, several luxury foreign diplomatic cars cruised at 100-110 totally ignoring any limits.

If the bloody swiss police did something against these arrogant bastards instead of harassing ordinary, working people I would be much happier. I hate this "two class" system.

 

Everywhere

This is around Milan.
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I have a house in Milan (actually quite near Monza) so I go there quite often. Fixed speed cameras you will find:

1) On extra-urban highways. These are the wide 2-lane roads that are not really "official" highways (real highways are always toll roads in Italy), which serve to connect various towns in the greater Milan region. They have ridiculous limits such as 90 Km/h.

2) In towns! MANY MANY MANY speed cameras near town centres but also in the most unsuspecting outskirts, usually painted black and well hidden. BE CAREFUL.

3) AT MAIN TRAFFIC LIGHTS. These are very nasty, if you happen to pass with a red (can happen quite innocently, if you are stuck in the middle of a junction). If these fines ever reach you in Switzerland the Swiss may take your licence away and charge you 1000 Sfr. Beware!!

Where is it safe? On secondary, small and curvy roads out of urban areas; on secondary mountain roads (not the main ones); on main highways (plenty of mobile units, though: keep your eyes open to the sides of the road).

On the highway between Chiasso and Milan I've never seen any cameras, but then it's a narrow, slow road, not much fun.