After netting the city 4,5 million francs in just four months, time is finally being called on the infamous speed camera on Langstrasse in Zurich. City officials have confirmed that they will not issue any more fines, at least for the time being.

Pedestrianised Langstrasse causes headache for Zurich police

Our story starts in September 2023, when Langstrasse - the main street for nightlife in Zurich - was partly pedestrianised. Since then, only buses, taxis and cyclists have been able to use the street in both directions during daytime. Drivers and motorcyclists have been banned from using the street entirely from 5.30am to 10pm, between the junctions of Ankerstrasse and Kanonengasse. 

However, it was not long before police noticed that many drivers were simply ignoring the new rules, despite the signs informing them of the change. Therefore, from the end of last year, anyone caught motoring through the restricted area in the daytime was issued a fine of 100 Swiss francs by a new camera set up on the street.

Langstrasse camera nets 4,5 million francs in four months

Unfortunately, what was expected to be a brief burst of traffic fines slowing to a trickle turned into a raging torrent that showed no signs of abating. In its first month of operation in January, the camera on Langstrasse issued 17.310 fines totalling 1,73 million francs. Although rates slowed, the camera still “earned” Zurich just less than a million francs in February, 900.000 francs in March and 830.000 francs in April. 

From January to the end of April, the camera raked in 37.190 francs a day in fines, or around 25,82 francs a minute. In those four months, fines from the camera totalled the equivalent of 7,5 percent of all fines issued in Zurich last year. Though rates have continued to slow, up to 500 drivers were still being fined daily up until June.

Fining camera in Langstrasse switched off - at least for now

This was too much for the local council. Speaking to SRF, city spokesperson Katharina Schorer said that they will not be using fines to enforce the new rules on Langstrasse for the time being. Officials conceded that fines have not been issued using the camera since June. “It’s not about making money, it’s about enforcing the new traffic rules,” Schorer assured.

Instead, officials said that they would be focusing on adding additional information and displays to make the rules clearer to motorists, though these measures will likely only arrive in 2025. "We are monitoring the situation closely," a spokesperson told Keystone-SDA, adding that if the number of drivers ignoring the rules rises, they will switch the camera back on.

Thumb image credit: Thomas Stoiber / Shutterstock.com