Here in the US, you can expect to pay the same for a speeding ticket whether you’re a millionaire or a pauper. Not so in Europe, however, where countries like Switzerland, Germany, France and Austria assess traffic fines based on the offender’s income.
In 2007, Switzerland overhauled their flat traffic fine system due to the disregard wealthy individuals had shown for basic traffic laws. This has led to a $290,000 fine for one repeat offender with an estimated $20 million in assets who was caught doing twice the 30 mph speed limit through a small village.
Similarly, a driver in France was charged 70,000 francs for speeding at 151 miles per hour.
Both of these fines, however, are dwarfed by the penalty to one Dutch 22-year-old who was caught doing 100 mph in a 50 mph zone near Rotterdam. In the Netherlands, an offense of that severity can result in the offender’s vehicle being confiscated by the authorities.
Bugatti Veyron
Unfortunately for the youth, son of Trust International CEO Michel Perridon, he was driving dad’s Bugatti Veyron—the most expensive car, valued at around $2.4 million, and now the most expensive traffic fine in the world.
Oh, he lost his license, too.
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