Mendrisio/Milan - Extreme speeding on the Swiss A2 highway could have serious consequences for a 22-year-old woman from Milan. At the end of June, she was recorded by a speed camera near Balerna in the canton of Ticino at 225 km/h - on a section where the speed limit is 100 km/h. After more than two months of investigation, the Swiss authorities have now been able to identify the driver. She is facing proceedings that go far beyond a simple fine in Switzerland.
In Switzerland, such reckless drivers are not only subject to administrative fines, but are also prosecuted under criminal law. The consequences for the young Italian woman are already being felt: as a first measure, she was banned from driving anywhere in Switzerland.
High, income-related penalties are the rule
Swiss legislation provides for drastic penalties for extreme speeding, which is classified as "speeding". In addition to the withdrawal of the driver's license and possible confiscation of the vehicle, a prison sentence of up to four years can be imposed in serious cases. The 22-year-old is certain of a very high fine in any case. The exact amount is still unclear, as fines in Switzerland are calculated according to the income of the traffic offender.
A case from the previous year showed just how expensive even minor infringements can be, when a French millionaire had to pay a record fine of around 100,000 euros for exceeding the speed limit by "only" 27 km/h.
Not an isolated case among Italian drivers
The incident involving the young woman from Milan is not an isolated case. Just a few days ago, the cantonal police in Ticino stopped a 47-year-old Italian woman from the province of Vercelli who was driving at 104 km/h instead of the permitted 50 km/h in urban areas. She was also reported as a "road hog" and was immediately banned from driving in Switzerland. The cases serve as an urgent warning to foreign drivers to respect the strict Swiss traffic regulations.
