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15 Jul 2010
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Swiss Vignettes.
To clear up any confusion, Swiss Autobahn Vignettes are required on all journeys on Swiss Autobahns as indicated with the green sign. The law has not changed....no vignettes are required on any other Swiss roads. This comes from a Swiss national resident in Switzerland. If caught without a vignette when one is required the police will sell it on the spot with the option of a large fine. They do not normally fine foreign visitors to encourage tourism. Respect their laws and Switzerland is an awesome place to visit. Safe travels, Lindsay.
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15 Jul 2010
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Linzi
That is also what Confereration Suisse (The Government!) say www.ch.ch - Welcome to the Swiss Portal of the federal government, the cantons and the communes - Roads and traffic in Switzerland
The previous (now withdrawn!) thread was solely in support of the OP's efforts to sell a used Vignette on Ebay, where he stated he had only stuck it to his windscreen with Scotch tape - an illegal use, deliberatly intended to defraud the Swiss Government for his personal gain.
Not a very nice attitude of any visiting HU traveller towards the Laws of the country he visited - and certainly not the level of honesty and integrity I had expected from an HU Super Moderator!
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16 Jul 2010
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That is a bit late now, because of the original posting, i have planned to go through Austria as their short term vignette is only about 4 euros.
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16 Jul 2010
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Fraud Victim
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw
That is a bit late now, because of the original posting, i have planned to go through Austria as their short term vignette is only about 4 euros.
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I am sorry to hear you are an indirect victim of this attempted fraud - apparently backed by HU.
This is a great pity for you and if it is, as you say, a direct result of the Super Moderator's post on the original thread, you should complain higher up.
HU has always been, for me, a place for people to share knowledge for the benefit of all. I had not considered it a place for self-admitted Government fraudsters to try to gain further money illegally (ie. contrary to the Law of a country visited and its terms under which the Vignette was purchased).
In view of this aparent change of direction of HU, for purposes of clear understanding by all, perhaps Grant will clarify and endorse it by way of a confirmatory response on this thread.
Anticipating for a second time on this topic, being moderated for a second time by the Super Moderator concerned, I have again Cut'nPasted the thread for future reference here and posting elsewhere, if requested.
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16 Jul 2010
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Didn't know you can buy a Vignette from the cops on site? Summer Holiday time in Europe is around July-Sep, try to get your Vignette at the last few petrol stations before getting to the swiss border. The lines to buy them can get very long as all the travelers from the north travel through Switzerland south.
If you come in by a land road you can buy them at Post shops "Die Post" Gas stations, Garages, Department of transportation "Strassenverkehrsämter" or as I said on the border.
At the moment they are 40.- CHF for a whole year. You can cross Switzerland from north to south in just over 4 hours on the motorways. If you have time and want to see the best of Switzerland... Land roads...
Greetings from Basel
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16 Jul 2010
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Couple of years ago I entered through Basel and didn't really get a choice - one officer was banging on about the London Congestion Charge while the other was busy slapping one in my window. If I'd have know it was just for motorways I'd have passed. F**kers.
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16 Jul 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by teflon
Couple of years ago I entered through Basel and didn't really get a choice.
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Maybe you entered on a motorway border - A3 (Autoroute from France) or A2 (Autobahn from Germany). In which case you were already on the Swiss Motorways without a Vignette!
There are no immigration controls since Switzerland joined the Schengen area in 2008 but there can be customs checks - even on the motorway border points. This is probably where you were obliged to buy your Vignette
- - - - - - - - - - - -
It's all about knowing, which is (or was) the beauty of HU before Super Moderators started posting incorrect information to promote their fraudulent sale of illegally used Vignettes. 
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16 Jul 2010
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Yes, it was on a motorway. Though if I remember right, I had the option of getting off. Anyway, something to avoid if I go to Switzerland again. Loved the country though. Not like crowded Britain - and so clean.
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16 Jul 2010
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Buying.
With reference to "Buying from a cop". Not exactly what I meant. If you were found without a vignette, the police carry them and make you buy one there and then. Personally I think, if you are meek and respectful, you'll get away without a fine. I doubt very much that a Swiss resident would get off so lightly.
You are definitely not meant or recommended to drive till a police car stops you. But I DO recommend that you visit Switzerland, it is awesome and one of the few countries that, for me, lived up to and exceeded my expectations from tourist brochure photos. Lindsay.
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16 Jul 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony P
I am sorry to hear you are an indirect victim of this attempted fraud - apparently backed by HU.
This is a great pity for you and if it is, as you say, a direct result of the Super Moderator's post on the original thread, you should complain higher up.
HU has always been, for me, a place for people to share knowledge for the benefit of all. I had not considered it a place for self-admitted Government fraudsters to try to gain further money illegally (ie. contrary to the Law of a country visited and its terms under which the Vignette was purchased).
In view of this aparent change of direction of HU, for purposes of clear understanding by all, perhaps Grant will clarify and endorse it by way of a confirmatory response on this thread.
Anticipating for a second time on this topic, being moderated for a second time by the Super Moderator concerned, I have again Cut'nPasted the thread for future reference here and posting elsewhere, if requested.
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Just to be clear - HU does not, never has, and never will, allow selling fraudulent anything on the site! Sheesh, I would have thought that was obvious and not needing clarification or confirmation - it goes against every principle we have, and has been clear sine we started.
Be aware that moderators of any type are just people, volunteers, not employees - and they aren't perfect, and make mistakes too. And are subject to chastisement, as is anybody.
Also, note that I don't see everything on the HUBB - in fact I see very little, I'm way too busy to read much of the posts, and have to trust the moderators all over the world to keep an eye on things, or let me know when there is a problem they can't handle - or for you guys to let me know! Generally they do a fantastic job - without them we wouldn't be able to run the site, and we are very grateful to them for their help and assistance.
For now as far as I can see the post(s) in question are gone, which means the moderator probably realised the error of his post. To give the benefit of the doubt, he may not have known it was illegal to transfer it! But now he certainly does. 
All good?
All - thanks for your patience and understanding, and (you know who) for bringing this to my attention.
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Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
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16 Jul 2010
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Grant, thanks for your reassurance above. I genuinely expected nothing less, but asking makes the point.
I really do fully appreciate all that you and your team does and the way they carry it out for all the honourable motives they have.
I would like to think the person concerned will be able to satisfactorally explain all to you and maintain full integrity of himself, his role in HU and HU itself.
Give him the benefit of doubt perhaps, but he knew what and why he was doing when he chose to ignore the vignette instructions and used Scotch tape.
The very presence of Scotch tape suggests the ifraud was premeditated before he had even left home setting out for Switzerland - I mean, how many Adventure Travellers actually carry Scotch tape, and have it close to hand?
I will now let this rest on HUBB. It is in your safe hands and just look forward to hearing of some form of closure to this from your point of view and situation.
Then we can all get back to helping each other.
Thanks.
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16 Jul 2010
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Jeez, lay off already.
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16 Jul 2010
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Moral of the story? Stick to the small roads and spend the money on strudels. 
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17 Jul 2010
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Vignette
Hi Guys
I live in Switzerland (german citizen) and I`m buying the Vignette every year (2 motorcycle 1 car).
The CHF 40,- are bound to go directly into the maintenance and constructing roads  and not in the common budget of the country  .
Thats why they have these nice and safe roads.... , compare it for example with Germany 
.... just to consider  and by the way, in Europe almost every Autobahn is private owned (except Germany) and you have to pay it anyway
In spring we rode from Genova to San Remo (130km) and we payed each Euro 13,- 
Thomas
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17 Jul 2010
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CHF 40 for a year is ok, if you live in the area, or use the roads often anyway... but for someone (like me) who may only pass through there once or twice a year, its a bit of a rip-off.
The Austrians have an option to buy it for only a few days, why not the Swiss? I think it is simply because they want to extract money from tourists. But I havent ruined my holidays because of it, I´ll just take my time and pass through using smaller roads (much more fun anyway!)
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