190 fines for missing motorway vignettes in Chiasso in 4 days: blanket checks

Context

TL;DR

• 190 vehicles fined for no Swiss vignette in 4 days.
• Fines: 200 CHF plus 40 CHF for vignette purchase.
• Checks focused on vehicles heading to Italy.
• Vignette cost is lower than a single Italy round trip.

Key facts

• Vehicles checked: 1,620 vehicles between April 3-6, 2026.
• Vehicles fined: 190 vehicles without Swiss motorway vignette.
• Fine amount: 200 Swiss francs plus 40 francs for vignette purchase.
• Vignette cost: 40 Swiss francs annually.
• Regulation start: January 1, 1985.
• Electronic vignette: Introduced in 2020, not yet implemented.
• Fine payment deadline: 30 days to avoid further consequences.
• Unpaid fines 2023: 25% of fines issued in Chiasso were not paid on time.

Between Friday, April 3, and Monday, April 6, 2026, specialists from the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security conducted extensive checks at the Chiasso-Brogeda border crossing, intercepting 190 vehicles without the Swiss motorway vignette. This figure is particularly significant when considering that the checks involved a total of 1,620 vehicles, averaging one violation for every nine cars. Each offender received a fine of 200 Swiss francs, in addition to being required to purchase the vignette itself, which costs 40 francs annually. For comparison, the cost of the vignette is lower than that of a single round trip from Como to Bologna, as highlighted by the editorial team of Il Giornale del Ticino.

Despite its clear affordability, many motorists, especially cross-border workers and tourists heading to Ticino towns like Mendrisio, Lugano, or Bellinzona, continue to ignore the requirement, hoping to evade checks. The data reveals a widespread disregard for road regulations, especially since motorway use is not mandatory. The checks, carried out without extraordinary resources, resulted in an average of nearly 50 fines per day, with peaks during morning and evening rush hours.

Details of the Checks

The checks were conducted over just four days, focusing primarily on vehicles heading to Italy (approximately 70% of violations), but there were also cases in the opposite direction, such as motorists heading to Stabio or Airolo. The regulation, in force since January 1, 1985, and updated in 2020 with the introduction of the electronic vignette (never implemented), imposes severe penalties for offenders. For example, an Italian motorist residing in Como and commuting daily to Lugano for work risks an annual expense of 240 francs in fines (200 CHF per violation + 40 CHF for the vignette) if caught without a vignette twice in a year.

'The vignette is not optional but a legal requirement for anyone using the Swiss motorway network,' a spokesperson for the Federal Office reminded.

Operational Checklist for Motorists

1. Verify the validity of the vignette before crossing the border. 2. Purchase the vignette at service stations, post offices, or online (40 CHF). 3. Apply the vignette correctly to the windshield, following the instructions. 4. Keep the receipt in case of additional checks.

Practical Comparisons

A motorist driving on the A2 motorway from Chiasso to Lugano (25 km) without a vignette risks a fine of 200 CHF, compared to the annual 40 CHF cost of the vignette. In a similar scenario, a trip from Como to Bologna (270 km) in Italy costs approximately 15.50 euros in tolls, making it a more expensive option than the Swiss vignette for frequent travelers to Ticino.

⚠️ Warning: Checks will be intensified in the coming months, with a particular focus on the border crossings of Gandria, Ponte Tresa, and Stabio.

Operational details

The operation carried out at Chiasso-Brogeda raises several practical issues for those who regularly cross the Italian-Swiss border. First and foremost, it is essential to understand that the motorway vignette is not optional but a legal requirement for anyone using the Swiss motorway network, even for short stretches. The annual cost of 40 Swiss francs (36.50 euros at the current exchange rate) is negligible compared to the penalties: a 200 Swiss franc (182 euro) fine plus the mandatory purchase of the vignette itself, for a total of 240 Swiss francs (218.50 euros). This regulation, in force since 1985, was updated in 2023 with the introduction of additional electronic checks at border crossings.

Comparisons and scenarios

Before this crackdown, many motorists believed that the risk of being stopped was low, especially during off-peak hours. The data from April 2024 proves otherwise: with an infringement rate of 12% (190 fines out of 1,620 vehicles checked in 4 days), the probability of being fined is very real. For example, a commuter crossing the Chiasso-Brogeda border twice a day without a vignette has a 24% chance of being fined in a month. Furthermore, checks are not limited to major crossings such as Chiasso, but can be extended to other entry points, such as Stabio (with 50 fines issued in the same period) or Gaggiolo (30 fines).

A telling case is that of the Novazzano-Marcetto crossing, where 15% of the vehicles checked (70 out of 460) were found to be irregular. Here, the proximity to the A2 motorway makes crossing without a vignette particularly risky. On the other hand, those using the Ponte Tresa crossing, which is less busy and far from motorways, have a lower but not zero risk: 20 fines were issued in the same period out of 300 checks (6.7%).

What happens if you don't pay the fine?

Those who do not pay the penalty within 30 days risk further consequences, including having their vehicle blocked at the next customs crossing or the initiation of enforcement proceedings in Switzerland, with additional costs (minimum 100 Swiss francs for administrative expenses). In 2023, 25% of the fines issued in Chiasso were not paid within the deadline, leading to 50 enforcement procedures. It is therefore advisable to regularise your position immediately.

Operational checklist for motorists:

1. Purchase: Buy the vignette at post offices, service stations or online (40 Swiss francs). 2. Application: Stick it correctly on the windscreen, visible from the outside. 3. Validity: Check the expiry date (end of February of the following year). 4. Documentation: Keep the purchase receipt for any checks.

Practical scenarios compared:

• Scenario 1: Motorist with expired vignette (200 Swiss franc fine + purchase of new vignette).
• Scenario 2: Vehicle without vignette (200 Swiss franc fine + mandatory purchase, total 240 Swiss francs).
• Scenario 3: Payment within 10 days (20% discount, total 192 Swiss francs).

'The vignette is not a cost, but an investment to avoid much higher penalties,' says a spokesperson for the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO).

⚠️ Warning: From 2025, the electronic vignette will replace the adhesive one, with automated checks via cameras.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

To avoid penalties when crossing borders into Ticino, it is essential to purchase the Swiss motorway vignette before using the country's road network. Here is a detailed guide, complete with practical examples and regulatory references:

1. Purchase: The vignette, costing 40 Swiss francs, is available at Swiss service stations (e.g. Tamoil in Chiasso), post offices (such as the one in Mendrisio) and online on the national roads website. It is valid for one year, from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the following year. For example, the 2024 vignette is valid from 1 December 2023 to 31 January 2025.

2. Application: It must be affixed to the windscreen, in the top right-hand corner, clearly visible from the outside. In the case of a rental, check that the vehicle already has a valid vignette.

3. Storage: In the event of a check, you must show the purchase receipt together with the vignette. Keep the receipt for the entire period of validity.

What to do if you receive a fine

If you are stopped without a vignette, for example along the A2 motorway near Balerna, the procedure is as follows:

1. Fine payment: Pay the fine of 200 Swiss francs (art. 86 ONA, in force since 1 January 2020) within the time limits indicated on the report.

2. Immediate purchase: Purchase the vignette within 10 days to avoid further penalties. For example, a commuter from Como who passes through Stabio every day risks a repeat fine if he or she does not regularise his or her position.

3. Documentation: Keep the payment receipt and the vignette purchase certificate for any future checks.

Operational checklist:

• [ ] Check the validity of the vignette before each trip.
• [ ] Purchase the vignette online or at authorised points of sale.
• [ ] Apply the vignette correctly to the windscreen.
• [ ] Always keep the purchase receipt.

Scenario comparison: A motorist who passes through Chiasso 5 days a week without a vignette risks a fine of 1,000 Swiss francs (5 fines x 200 CHF) in one week, in addition to the 40 CHF for the vignette. With advance purchase, the annual cost is only 40 CHF.

'Checks are stepped up during periods of high traffic, such as during holidays or weekends,' explains a spokesman for the Ticino Cantonal Police.

To calculate the overall transit costs, including fuel, vignette and tolls, use our calculator.

Source: ilgiornaledelticino.ch