Birsfelden issues 39,400 fines under traffic control system

Birsfelden has issued around 39,400 fines since introducing an automatic through traffic control system a year ago, Swiss broadcaster SRF reported. The fines generated nearly 2.9 million Swiss francs for the municipality.

The system prevents drivers from using residential streets in the municipality to avoid traffic jams. Drivers who remain in the controlled area for less than 15 minutes are fined 100 francs.

At the start of the system in September 2025, Birsfelden issued about 100 fines a day, according to SRF’s figures. The report also says that drivers initially received around 1,000 fines per day, generating about 100,000 francs in daily revenue during the first weeks. In 2026, the average fell to 44 fines a day.

Désirée Jaun, the councillor responsible for the system, said the municipality was satisfied with its effect on traffic. She said traffic on Birsfelden’s residential streets had fallen by about 38 percent, although a detailed report is still being prepared.

The report will also examine where fined drivers came from before entering the residential streets, Jaun said. She added that the municipality was less satisfied with the continuing number of fines because the system was not introduced to generate income.

Not all fines have been paid. Birsfelden has passed some cases to the public prosecutor’s office, while motoring organisations have taken legal action against the fines. The proceedings have not yet been concluded.

The Swiss Federal Council also voiced criticism of the system in February. Jaun said Birsfelden had checked the system’s legality before introducing it and was prepared to let a court settle the outstanding legal questions.

The neighbouring municipality of Muttenz has expressed interest in using a similar system to reduce through traffic on its own municipal roads. Both municipalities are awaiting the detailed traffic figures and the court ruling.