A vacation memory turned into a costly surprise for one traveller after she received a traffic violation notice from Switzerland nearly a year after returning home — with the fine amounting to a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh. The woman shared her experience on X, asking whether anyone else had faced a similar situation. “Has anyone here received a traffic violation fine from Switzerland months after returning from a vacation? We just received a challan of almost Rs 1 lakh, nearly a year after our trip,” she wrote. Seeking advice, she added that she was trying to understand whether there was any way to appeal, reduce, or get the penalty waived. “Would love to hear from anyone who has dealt with something similar or knows the process. Any help would be greatly appreciated,” she said. However, the situation turned out to be even worse than initially thought. In a follow-up post, she revealed that the total penalty exceeded Rs 1.5 lakh. “We just realised it’s actually more than that — Rs 1.5 lakhs in total,” she wrote, adding that the payment details were provided in letters received through the Ministry of External Affairs.— Poan__Sapdi (@Poan__Sapdi) The post quickly sparked a flood of responses from fellow travellers who shared their own experiences of receiving traffic fines from European countries long after returning home. One user recalled receiving a Rs 10,000 fine from Germany after a trip. “Paid it. But Rs 1 lakh is crazy,” the person commented. Another traveller said they were fined while driving near the famous Rhine Falls. “The fine was around Rs 3,500. I think it happened because we took a wrong turn and accidentally entered Germany. Since the amount was small, we paid and closed the case. However, driving in Europe still remains one of the best experiences,” the user wrote. Others reported receiving multiple tickets months after their journeys. One user said they got three separate fines worth 200–300 euros each several months after returning from Switzerland. “The worst part was that online payment wasn’t possible. The only option was a SWIFT transfer, which took a lot of time,” the traveller noted. Another person shared similar experiences from Iceland and Turkey, saying they had received fines worth Rs 40,000 and Rs 22,000 respectively. “We asked for proof and were provided videos and photographs showing overspeeding or parking violations. In the end, we had to pay,” the user said. Some commenters also criticised Switzerland’s road enforcement system, claiming that tourists often fall victim to confusing traffic rules and camera placements. “On every trip to Switzerland, you’re likely to get a ticket for one reason or another. It happened to us on three different visits,” one user claimed. The viral post has once again highlighted how strict traffic enforcement in many European countries can result in hefty penalties for tourists, with fines often arriving months — or even years — after the actual violation.