Swiss police tolerate motorcades after European Championship matches
Published: Thursday, Jun 13th 2024, 09:50
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Most cantons tolerate honking car parades up to an hour after the final whistle after European Football Championship matches. However, they draw the line at people leaning out of their car windows.
In a survey conducted by the Keystone-SDA news agency, the Swiss cantonal police stated that they would take a measured approach during the European Football Championship. In most places, this means that although "honking as an expression of joy" is generally prohibited by the Road Traffic Act, tolerance applies for up to 60 minutes after the matches.
The police intervene in situations in which a danger to themselves or others is identified - for example when bodies are leaning out of car windows or flags are being waved wildly. There is also "no match bonus" for drink-driving, said the Solothurn cantonal police.
Road closures possible
Depending on the situation, it is also possible that road closures and detour may occur. According to the cantonal police forces of St. Gallen, Zurich and the Aarau municipal police, this is one way of controlling large motorcades
In Lucerne, honking concerts are also not tolerated in the vicinity of places of a recreational nature such as hospitals, retirement homes or residential areas, said Simon Kopp, media spokesman for the Lucerne public prosecutor's office, to the Keystone-SDA news agency.
Mostly positive experiences
However, the majority of police forces' experiences to date in this area have been positive. The Basel city police, for example, have only rarely had to intervene. The Chur municipal police have also had almost no problems in connection with European Championship or World Cup events in the last 20 years, as they announced on request.
Only the canton of Bern reported problems at previous European Championships. During the 2016 European Championships, a motorcyclist died during the hustle and bustle of football at night.
Games are shown almost everywhere
The European Football Championship can be watched practically everywhere: the city of Zurich, for example, has granted general permission in advance for restaurant operators to set up TV sets with a maximum screen diagonal of three meters in their existing garden pubs and boulevard cafés.
In Basel, too, no official permit is required for setting up televisions outdoors, provided that the maximum screen diagonal of three meters is not exceeded and no additional loudspeakers are used.
In addition, catering establishments may serve their guests inside and outside on match days for a maximum of 15 minutes after the end of the match, according to the Basel Building and Catering Inspectorate.
Diverse grosse Public Viewings
There are also numerous larger events: In addition to Geneva, where there is room for around 16,000 people in the Plainpalais, the "Winti Arena" with its 3,000 standing and seating places will be open again in Winterthur from June 14 to July 14.
There are also around 2500 seats in the Thun home arena. In Bern, a larger public viewing will take place on the large ski jump, for example. In Interlaken, the Kursaal-Park shows all matches free of charge.
In Solothurn, football fans can expect a large, semi-open tent near the train station. In Thurgau, larger public viewings are organized on the Schlosswiese in Arbon or in the Bodensee-Arena in Kreuzlingen. Chur offers a large public viewing in the middle of the city on Theaterplatz.
The games will also be shown in various bars, beer gardens and parks throughout the region.
©Keystone/SDA
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