Driving licence withdrawal in Switzerland
Withdrawal depends on the severity of the offence and the driver's record, never on a points system.
Three degrees of severity
The law distinguishes three categories of offence, each with its own consequences (art. 16a to 16c LCR).
Minor offence
A minor endangerment with a slight fault (art. 16a LCR). Without a prior offence in the preceding two years, it results in a warning, with no withdrawal. If there is a prior offence, the withdrawal is for at least one month. A "particularly minor" offence does not result in any measure.
Moderately serious offence
A danger created or a risk accepted, in particular (art. 16b LCR): driving without the licence of the required category, or driving under the influence without a qualified level combined with another minor offence. The withdrawal is for at least one month, with increasing minimum durations in the event of a repeat offence: four months, nine months, fifteen months, then an indefinite duration of at least two years from the third repeat offence within ten years.
Serious offence
A serious endangerment through a serious violation of the rules, in particular (art. 16c LCR): driving with a qualified blood alcohol level, unfitness to drive due to narcotics, intentional refusal to submit to a check, hit-and-run after an accident involving injury or death, or driving despite an ongoing withdrawal. The withdrawal is for at least three months, and at least two years for a particularly serious speeding offence within the meaning of art. 90 para. 4 LCR - see speeding. Repeat offences raise this minimum duration to six months, then twelve months, then to an indefinite duration of at least two years.
Withdrawal for unfitness to drive
Regardless of any offence, the licence is withdrawn for an indefinite duration in the event of physical or mental unfitness to drive, dependency, or where the driver's prior conduct does not guarantee future compliance with the rules (art. 16d LCR).
Permanent withdrawal
In the most serious repeat-offence cases - beyond the stages described above, occurring within a period of five years - the licence can be withdrawn permanently (art. 16b para. 2 let. f, and art. 16c para. 2 let. e, LCR).
Why Switzerland has no points system
Swiss law does not provide for any points balance that is drawn down with each offence. The legal mechanism (art. 16 to 16d LCR) operates exclusively through licence withdrawal for a fixed or indefinite duration, calculated directly from the severity of the offence and the driver's history over the past two, five or ten years, depending on the case.