The Federal Court has ruled that debt collection agencies can’t act for a foreign government on the collection of traffic fines, unless there’s an agreement between states.
The case was brought by a Swiss lawyer in Bussigny in canton Vaud. He received a letter from the Creditreform agency for a fine collected in Rome.
Federal judges confirmed the agency is not allowed to act for Italian authorities as there’s no agreement between Rome and Bern.
The collection agency sends 20,000 letters on behalf of Italy a year, but is powerless to prosecute if no payment is made.
But lawyers say it is important to pay a fine if received, as it will stay on file in Italy and police can seize the car if spotted on a subsequent trip.
Legal experts also point out that an international agreement to collect fines does exist with France.
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