Scooter Drivers Beware; Narco Bust Near Basel; Pharma Boss Favors Compulsory Vaccine

News For 17 November 2020

The popularity of motorized scooters in Basel is hardly news.  It seems every week a new vendor places more of the convenient mobility devices on the streets of Basel. However, it also seems that most people are not aware of the prevailing traffic regulations that govern the operation of the scooters. A man in Vaud last week was clocked with a speed camera going 57 km/h on a main traffic thoroughfare.  In addition to exceeding the speed limit of 50 km/h on the road, traffic rules limit scooter speeds to a maximum of 20 km/h on public roads. Furthermore, to achieve its high rate of speed the scooter's motor was modified to exceed the street-legal power  maximum of 0.5 kW. The man now faces a heavy fine - while scooter sharing vendors adhere strictly to the legal  limits, users are reminded that they are also responsible for operating the vehicles in accordance with the rules.

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A 32 year old Belgian Man was stopped by Swiss and German authorities in Eimeldingen, a German town across the border from Basel. The authorities noticed a strange bulge in his backpack, to which the suspect responded that it was a designer bag and should not be touched. The authorities still not convinced called a narcotics team, believing the man to be violating the Narcotics Act. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the lump was actually 700 high dose LSD Pills, which the Belgian man claimed he wanted for vegan cooking. The man was detained and reported to the prosecutors office in Lorrach. 

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The president of Roche Pharmaceuticals, Christoph Franz, has expressed his support for compulsory Coronavirus vaccinations once they become widely available.  Although this may seem like an obvious position, it is in fact politically fraught in a country whose culture values freedom and personal liberty.  Mr. Franz elaborated on his position saying, while the vaccine may be compulsory, the results would yield enhanced freedom for the population at large through improved disease resistance - not just for those getting the vaccine, but those in the community who will experience reduced exposure.  Earlier this year, Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset was quoted as saying, “Swiss law does not allow us to force someone to get vaccinated against their will”.  Although Roche has been active in developing Coronavirus tests, the company is not actively involved with developing vaccines for the virus.