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Swiss Town’s 15‑Minute Camera Rule Triggers Windfall and Looming Legal Fight

Mounting criticism makes a court test of Birsfelden’s fines likely.

Overview

  • Automated cameras enforce a 15‑minute minimum stay, issuing 100 CHF fines to drivers who leave the municipality sooner.
  • Since mid‑September roughly 1,000 daily violations have been logged, yielding about 100,000 CHF per day after an initial rollout.
  • The municipality initially expected about 15 cases per day, leading to administrative strain, added staff and long service counter waits.
  • The Touring Club Schweiz faults insufficient signage and reports many penalized members, and it has announced legal action to challenge the scheme.
  • Legal scholars question constitutionality and privacy and advise the town not to spend proceeds, as navigation apps still route drivers through Birsfelden.