Switzerland Millionaire Given Record Speed Fine

Source BBC, 7th January 2010

A Swiss millionaire has been given a record speeding fine of $290,000 (£180,000) by a court. The millionaire was reportedly caught driving his red Ferrari Testarossa at 85mph (137km/h) through a village.

The penalty was calculated based on the millionaire motorist's wealth - this was assessed by the court as $22.7m (£14.1m) - and because he was a repeat offender.

This fine was more than double Switzerland's previous record speeding fine which was given to a Porsche driver in Zurich in 2008.

In the latest case, the motorist was clocked speeding 57km/h (35mph) faster than the limit, according to the cantonal court in St Gallen, eastern Switzerland.

"The accused ignored elementary traffic rules with a powerful vehicle out of a pure desire for speed," the court said in its judgement.

Swiss media reported that the man owns a villa with four other luxury cars.