Polizei / Statthalteramt / Stadtrichteramt letter explained in English
Police and fines office. Handles fines, for example for speeding or wrong parking, and smaller offences.
Letters you may get
- Ordnungsbusse — a fixed fine for a small offence
- Strafbefehl — a penalty order; object within 10 days if you disagree
- Vorladung — you must come for questioning
What to do
- Pay an Ordnungsbusse within the period on the slip, usually 30 days. If you don’t, a normal procedure starts and it costs more.
- Object to a Strafbefehl in writing within 10 days. Otherwise it becomes final, like a court judgment.
- Find the deadline. Look for “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innert”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“Einsprache”, “Rechtsvorschlag”, “Rekurs”, “Beschwerde”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Ordnungsbusse
- Fixed fine for a small offence, for example parking. It doesn’t go on your criminal record.
- Strafbefehl
- Penalty order from the prosecutor or a fines office. If you don’t object, it counts as a final judgment.
- Vorladung
- Summons. You must come to the police, the prosecutor or a court.
Questions
What is the Polizei / Statthalteramt / Stadtrichteramt?
Police and fines office. Handles fines, for example for speeding or wrong parking, and smaller offences.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Polizei / Statthalteramt / Stadtrichteramt?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innert” — they mark the deadline. In Switzerland, a legal deadline starts the day after you receive the letter. A registered letter you don’t collect usually counts as delivered on the 7th day after the collection notice (Abholungseinladung). To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“Einsprache”, “Rechtsvorschlag”, “Rekurs”, “Beschwerde”).
Can I read a Polizei / Statthalteramt / Stadtrichteramt letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in German. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Switzerland
Kantonales Steueramt / Steuerverwaltung · Gemeindesteueramt · RAV (Regionales Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum) · Arbeitslosenkasse · Migrationsamt · Einwohnerkontrolle / Einwohneramt · Krankenkasse · Serafe AG