The Aargau High Court found the driver guilty of a gross violation of traffic rules. They handed down a conditional fine of CHF 98,500 (116 237 USD or 105,275 euro), split into 50 daily rates of CHF 1,970 (2,324 USD or 2,105 euro) each. The court also tacked on an extra CHF 10,000 (11,798 USD or 10,687 euro) fine. On top of that, the driver has to cover CHF 5,124 (6,045 USD or 5,476 euro) in court costs.
The incident happened on a Thursday morning in March 2023. Around 9:35 AM, the millionaire was cruising at 110 to 120 km/h (68 to 75 mph) on the A1 towards Zurich. For about 2,4 km (1.5 miles), he kept only 8 to 12 meters (26 to 39 feet) between his car and the one in front.
Police caught the whole thing on video. They noted the gap between the cars was super short - just one road marking and a bit more. The cops were initially going 124 km/h (77 mph) but slowed down to 112 km/h (70 mph) to keep up.
The court said it created a "high abstract accident risk" for both the car in front and those behind. Even a quick brake by the car ahead or a moment of distraction could've led to a nasty crash.
The millionaire tried to fight the charges. He appealed the original verdict from the District Court of Zofingen, hoping to get off scot-free. He argued there were "numerous legal subtleties" and claimed there wasn't enough evidence. But the high court wasn't buying it.
When deciding on the fine, the court looked at the driver's personal and financial situation. With a taxable income of CHF 1.674 million (about $1.89 million), they settled on a daily rate near the maximum allowed CHF 3,000.
The driver still has a chance to appeal to Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court. But for now, that's one expensive tailgating lesson.
Source: BlueWin