Overview
- After a 173–13 vote in the National Council following earlier Council of States approval, lawmakers tasked Transport Minister Albert Rösti with preparing implementing legislation.
- The planned measure targets foreign‑registered private vehicles, including motorcycles, that traverse Switzerland in under about 12 hours without a significant stay, using time in country rather than route as the trigger.
- Reports describe a headline fee of roughly 21 Swiss francs per transit with variable, traffic‑sensitive pricing that would make holiday peaks costlier, though details remain proposals rather than final rules.
- Automated licence‑plate recognition at borders is envisioned to match entry and exit times, with key definitions, data protection safeguards, and technical feasibility still to be resolved, and a referendum possible if constitutional changes are needed.
- The policy aims to ease seasonal congestion on Alpine corridors such as the Gotthard, with revenue intended for the National Roads and Agglomeration Traffic Fund, while critics warn of constitutional and EU‑related risks and current road access rules remain unchanged.