$290k speeding ticket

[Captain Morgan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100107/ap_on_fe_st/eu_odd_switzerland_huge_speeding_fine

Thu Jan 7, 10:47 am ET
ST. GALLEN, Switzerland – A Swiss court has slapped a wealthy speeder with a chalet-sized fine — a full $290,000.

Judges at the cantonal court in St. Gallen, in eastern Switzerland, based the record-breaking fine on the speeder's estimated wealth of over $20 million.

A statement on the court's Web site says the driver — a repeat offender — drove up to 35 miles an hour (57 kilometers an hour) faster than the 50-mile-an-hour (80-kilometer-an-hour) limit.

Court clerk Heidi Baumann-Becker said Thursday the unidentified driver can appeal the decision, handed down in November, to the Swiss supreme court.

The Blick daily newspaper in Zurich reported the fine was more than twice the previous Swiss record of about $107,000.

[101lifts2]

Socalism at its best....

[derf]

Thats how fast Dave and i got popped doing. Glad we aren't in swisslandish

[Captain Morgan]

Socalism at its best....

I can sort of see their point, though. I mean, the guy is worth 20mil and they give him a ticket for 300k. That's like giving me a ticket for $400.

On the other hand, if they were to give him a $400 ticket, that would be like giving me a ticket for 50 cents.

[derf]

I can sort of see their point, though. I mean, the guy is worth 20mil and they give him a ticket for 300k. That's like giving me a ticket for $400.

On the other hand, if they were to give him a $400 ticket, that would be like giving me a ticket for 50 cents.

Yeh but I would really appreciate a $.50 ticket vs a $400 ticket

[Ineffable]

I can sort of see their point, though. I mean, the guy is worth 20mil and they give him a ticket for 300k. That's like giving me a ticket for $400.

On the other hand, if they were to give him a $400 ticket, that would be like giving me a ticket for 50 cents.

I agree with Captain on this one about seeing the point. However, it is still pretty dumb. I think 50k at most.

[Rangerscott]

Fuck the rich. If I dont have what they have then fuck em in the left knee.

[sherri_chickie]

That will teach him to speed...lol

OUCH!!

[101lifts2]

I can sort of see their point, though. I mean, the guy is worth 20mil and they give him a ticket for 300k. That's like giving me a ticket for $400.

On the other hand, if they were to give him a $400 ticket, that would be like giving me a ticket for 50 cents.

Their point is greediness no more. It is unequal punishment under the law. Then again what should you expect from a European government.

[Rangerscott]

Their point is greediness no more. It is like giving a black dude more jail time for killing someone in the same fashion as a white dude. It is unequal punishment under the law. Then again what should you expect from a European government.

race card pulled.

[Ineffable]

race card pulled.

oh snap!

[101lifts2]

race card pulled.


Fucker...you qutoed before I saved the changes. I'm thinking that race isn't really fitting here because you could easily argue about our progressive tax system.

[Rangerscott]

oh snap!

I know and he doesnt even have a race car.

[shmike]

Fuck the rich. If I dont have what they have then fuck em in the left knee.

That's basically the attitude that they've adopted.

[Papa_Complex]

Their point is greediness no more. It is unequal punishment under the law. Then again what should you expect from a European government.

I really wouldn't want to see this sort of penalty in North America, but what they're striving for is equitable punishment under the law. The fine is based on your net worth. It may be unequal punishment in absolute terms, but in relative terms it actually is equal.

Thats how fast Dave and i got popped doing. Glad we aren't in swisslandish

Up here they would have taken your vehicle and license for a week, without benefit of trial. In Switzerland, if you were a foreigner, they'd hand you a bill at the roadside and make you pay.

[Amber Lamps]

Bullshit!!! I want equal treatment period. If I get a speeding ticket and a non-working loser gets the same ticket, I don't want him getting a lighter fine. If I work my ass off and make $100,000 a year, it doesn't mean that I should pay more for a traffic ticket.

Some of you applaud this action now because the guy was worth $20,000,000 but how would you feel in court if they hit you with a $2,000 fine while letting the next guy off for $100? It's the same old deal, it sounds good to make the "rich" pay more (fine, taxes, etc) until someone decides that YOU are "rich".

Hell maybe parking tickets should be based on how much the car is worth.

[shmike]

Tigger for President. :boobs:

[Papa_Complex]

Bullshit!!! I want equal treatment period. If I get a speeding ticket and a non-working loser gets the same ticket, I don't want him getting a lighter fine. If I work my ass off and make $100,000 a year, it doesn't mean that I should pay more for a traffic ticket.

Some of you applaud this action now because the guy was worth $20,000,000 but how would you feel in court if they hit you with a $2,000 fine while letting the next guy off for $100? It's the same old deal, it sounds good to make the "rich" pay more (fine, taxes, etc) until someone decides that YOU are "rich".

Hell maybe parking tickets should be based on how much the car is worth.

Actually Switzerland handles illegal parking fines the same way ;)

[Captain Morgan]

Their point is greediness no more. It is unequal punishment under the law. Then again what should you expect from a European government.

I really wouldn't want to see this sort of penalty in North America, but what they're striving for is equitable punishment under the law. The fine is based on your net worth. It may be unequal punishment in absolute terms, but in relative terms it actually is equal.

Bullshit!!! I want equal treatment period. If I get a speeding ticket and a non-working loser gets the same ticket, I don't want him getting a lighter fine. If I work my ass off and make $100,000 a year, it doesn't mean that I should pay more for a traffic ticket.

Some of you applaud this action now because the guy was worth $20,000,000 but how would you feel in court if they hit you with a $2,000 fine while letting the next guy off for $100? It's the same old deal, it sounds good to make the "rich" pay more (fine, taxes, etc) until someone decides that YOU are "rich".

Hell maybe parking tickets should be based on how much the car is worth.

Yeah, not too sure I would be thrilled with this system in the US, but I can definitely understand why they feel it's equitable. Hell, if I got a speeding ticket for 50 cents, it sure as hell would not be much of a deterrent. But if the ticket was $400, I'd be more apt to watch my speed.

[Avatard]

To a millionaire, a $400 ticket is a mere road tax.

By making the ticket commensurate with the person's wealth, the discouragement against committing the crime again is proportionate.

This is the theory here, and if the fine is in fact there to truly discourage the offense, then the rationale is valid.

It isn't about socialism, it's about enforcement.

[askmrjesus]

Fucker...you qutoed before I saved the changes. I'm thinking that race isn't really fitting here because you could easily argue about our progressive tax system.

What you should be thinking is; "Maybe I should think before I type".

But that's Ok. It's funnier this way.

JC

[Amber Lamps]

Actually Switzerland handles illegal parking fines the same way ;)

Then FUCK SWITZERLAND!!!

[Amber Lamps]

To a millionaire, a $400 ticket is a mere road tax.

By making the ticket commensurate with the person's wealth, the discouragement against committing the crime again is proportionate.

This is the theory here, and if the fine is in fact there to truly discourage the offense, then the rationale is valid.

It isn't about socialism, it's about enforcement.

Okay for one, speeding tickets are about revenue, not deterrence! That's a bunch of horseshit! If the gov't really wanted to stop people from speeding, they would mandate 70 mph governors on all vehicles sold in this country and be done with it on the highway. In fact, with GPS technology, mine accurately displays the posted speed limit, they could program a car to not exceed the limit. Now I know that some people would find a way to beat the programming, etc. When those people are caught, put them in fucking jail! Problem solved.

If everyone was treated the same way, even the rich guy would lose his license after so many tickets and go to jail if caught driving without one, again problem solved.

[shmike]

Tigger for President. :boobs:

Okay for one, speeding tickets are about revenue, not deterrence! That's a bunch of horseshit! If the gov't really wanted to stop people from speeding, they would mandate 70 mph governors on all vehicles sold in this country and be done with it on the highway. In fact, with GPS technology, mine accurately displays the posted speed limit, they could program a car to not exceed the limit. Now I know that some people would find a way to beat the programming, etc. When those people are caught, put them in fucking jail! Problem solved.

If everyone was treated the same way, even the rich guy would lose his license after so many tickets and go to jail if caught driving without one, again problem solved.

I changed my mind.

:wtfru:

[Amber Lamps]

I changed my mind.

:wtfru:

Hey I'm not advocating such a program (I'd be one of the first imprisoned!), I'm merely stating that a solution has been possible for decades. AFAIK GM and all of the other manufacturers govern cars to some extent now. I'm merely pointing out the hypocrisy...

[askmrjesus]

I changed my mind.

:wtfru:

Goddamn swing voters.

They fuck up everything.

JC