Fines & licence withdrawal

Fixed penalties

Minor offences are settled with a fixed penalty: a set amount, no criminal record entry, no consequence for the licence. Some common amounts:

• Holding a phone while driving: 100 francs
• Seat belt not worn: 60 francs
• The maximum for a fixed penalty is 300 francs

Beyond that, or where someone has been endangered, the matter goes to ordinary proceedings – with a fine based on income, possibly a monetary penalty, and an administrative measure against the licence.

The three degrees of severity

• Minor offence: slight danger, slight fault. A warning is possible.
• Medium offence: licence withdrawal for at least 1 month.
• Serious offence: serious danger or grave fault – withdrawal for at least 3 months.

Repeat offences lengthen these periods considerably: the system is designed so that the second time costs far more than the first.

Extreme speeding

Particularly excessive speeding counts as an extreme speeding offence. The thresholds are set in law:

• +50 km/h in built-up areas
• +60 km/h outside built-up areas
• +80 km/h on the motorway

The consequences are severe: a custodial sentence and licence withdrawal for at least 24 months.

Remember: during the probationary period an offence involving withdrawal extends that period by one year – and a second one annuls the licence.