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As an expat, currently living in Basel Switzerland on a 2yr assignment with work, I can attest this is very believable! First, you can get sent a lovely speeding ticket in the mail even for doing 5MPH over the limit by one of the many speed cameras scattered across the motorway. Ergo, everyone drives at the same speed on the highway--it's very nice actually. don't have to keep an eye out for idiots excessively speeding--it's very very rare. Everything changes when you cross the border into Germany.
Here in Switzerland, if your speed exceeds the limit by a certain amount (20-30 I think depending on the location) your fine is indeed a percentage of your wealth. And in fact, I think it's not just your income. Here you get hit with a "wealth tax" each year on not only your income but ALL assets (house/car value, savings etc..). They even go so far as to tax you on potential income from assets. So if you have a second house or condo somewhere they tax you on the potential rent you could receive even if you are not renting it.
Having said that, you don't need to worry about speeding in Switzerland because you don't really need to own a car here. I know several people who dont. the numerous taxes help to pay for what I believe is the best public transport system in the world. You can use trams and trains to go anywhere you need to. I have a car here and have put less than two tanks of gas in it over 12mos. You sort of get punished here for owning a car and rewarded for walking/biking/tramming. While the USA is too spread out to build such a system as efficiently, there is a lot to learn from this country. It will be very hard for me to leave at the end of this year.
crcguy
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