Facts
N. was fined CHF 60 by the Zurich Municipal Police on 21 July 1979 for speeding. He paid the fine immediately. On 17 October 1979, N. requested a revision of this decision, arguing that he was not aware of essential facts at the time of paying the fine and would have requested the ordinary criminal procedure if he had been aware of them. The Criminal Chamber I of the Cantonal High Court of Zurich refused to consider this request, considering that the summary fine procedure is not subject to subsequent revision. N. then filed a nullity appeal against this decision.Considerations
The SCC dismisses the nullity appeal. It considers that the Federal Act on Summary Fines in Road Traffic (OBG) provides for a simplified procedure for certain minor offences against federal road traffic law, with fines of up to CHF 100. This procedure, which excludes the application of cantonal criminal procedure law, aims to relieve judges of these "petty offences". The OBG contains no indication that the revision provided for in Art. 397 SCC would apply to these summary fines. Allowing revision would go against the legislator's objective of simplifying the procedure for these minor offences.
Furthermore, the OBG already provides for…