Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Street Safety

The $290,000 Speeding Ticket

11:00 AM EST on January 8, 2010

Red_Ferrari.jpgThe record-setting ticket was given to the driver of a red Ferrari Testarossa. Photo: SeeMonterey via Flickr.

It would be a red Ferrari, wouldn't it?

The Swiss courts just handed down the world's most expensive speeding ticket: 299,000 Swiss francs, or just under $290,000. According to the BBC, the motorist was barreling through a small village at 85 miles per hour: 35 mph over the speed limit. Because the Swiss, like many European countries, assess higher speeding penalties to those with a greater ability to pay and because he was a repeat offender, this millionaire had to part with a small fortune. In Switzerland, even the rich have a strong incentive to follow traffic laws.

Stateside, the fines for speeding are bit more lenient. Last August, an off-duty Ohio police officer was caught driving 147 mph down the highway and walked away with a $150 fine and a six-month suspension of his driver's license. For the rich, penalties for traffic crime amount to a pittance. Millionaire CEO Richard Anderson was driving at an estimated 60 mph on the streets of the Financial District when he struck and killed Florence Cioffi in January 2008. Despite refusing a Breathalyzer test and initially leaving the scene of the crash, Anderson was able to plea down to a 16-day jail sentence, 250 hours of community service, and a fine.

The amount? $350.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Ossé: Bedford Ave. Bike Lane is Stuck in DOT’s ‘Community Engagement’ Purgatory

"Over the past couple weeks [the DOT] has been saying that they need to do more community engagement on the issue," the Council member said of the much-discussed project.

March 19, 2024

Cycle of Rage: Council Members Slam DOT for Successful Safety Projects

What do three street safety projects across the city have in common? Hypocrisy by some Council members, that's what.

March 19, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines: Make America Grate Again Edition

A Sanitation worker made a larger political statement than merely parking illegally. Plus other news.

March 19, 2024
See all posts