Finnish Police Give Record Speeding Fine

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-02-10 08:32pm

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... eding_fine

HELSINKI, Finland - Police gave a record $216,900 speeding ticket to a millionaire under a system in which traffic fines are linked to an offender's income.

The Iltalehti tabloid reported that millionaire Jussi Salonoja zoomed through the city center last weekend in a 25 mph zone and police handed him a ticket of $216,900. It didn't say what his speed was.

The fine was based on information they got directly for the inland revenue office, the Tuesday report said.

Salonoja, 27, could not be reached for comment, and police declined to discuss the alleged speeding incident until it reaches the Helsinki Regional Court at a later date.

Although it's the costliest ticket to date, it's not the first with a big price tag.

Two years ago, Anssi Vanjoki, then executive vice president of Nokia (news - web sites)'s mobile phones division, landed a $148,000 ticket after being caught doing 46 mph in a 31 mph zone on a motorcycle.

It was later lowered to about $7,500 after he showed a court that his income had dropped, but not before Finns flew into a rage over the high fine. But, after weeks of Parliament debates, discussions on TV shows and expressions of disgust in the media, Finns did nothing and the system remained.

Other hefty speeding tickets have included a $71,000 one for a professional hockey player and one for $190,000 given to one of Finland's wealthiest people.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-02-10 08:33pm

Dude...

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-02-10 08:34pm

I don't think this is a bad idea. Rich people should feel that sting as well.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-02-10 08:35pm

Gandalf wrote:I don't think this is a bad idea. Rich people should feel that sting as well.

Yeah, * cough * ENRON exec's * cough *

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-02-10 08:42pm

sucks to be the rich guy. but the idea of a sliding scale based fine system depending on how much you make isn't that bad of an idea.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-02-10 09:10pm

Points on the licence, not monetary fines will deter them.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-02-10 09:15pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:Points on the licence, not monetary fines will deter them.

But some bad drivers don`t care about losing points they all keep driving on a freaking suspended liscence.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-02-10 09:44pm

Montcalm wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:Points on the licence, not monetary fines will deter them.
But some bad drivers don`t care about losing points they all keep driving on a freaking suspended liscence.

And when they get caught, they're uber-fucked.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-02-10 09:47pm

They need to hand out more prison time, but one of the problems with that strategy is that the prisons are already filled to overflowing, in large part because of the War on Drugs.

Personally, I'd prefer that the government drop the War on Drugs and put all of that time, money, and effort toward a War on Thugs instead, but that doesn't seem likely.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-02-10 09:49pm

Darth Wong wrote:They need to hand out more prison time, but one of the problems with that strategy is that the prisons are already filled to overflowing, in large part because of the War on Drugs.

Personally, I'd prefer that the government drop the War on Drugs and put all of that time, money, and effort toward a War on Thugs instead, but that doesn't seem likely.

How aggressively is this anti-drug business pursued in Canada? Not for marijuana, I understand there's some liberalization of marijuana drug laws going on up there, but for the harder stuff.

tharkûn · Post by **tharkûn** » 2004-02-11 10:34pm

They need to hand out more prison time, but one of the problems with that strategy is that the prisons are already filled to overflowing, in large part because of the War on Drugs.

Umm, this is Finland. They pride themselves on reducing the incarceration rate by not sending people to jail. I mean seriously they let murderers apply for "home leaves" and get early release if not parole after a few years. I don't think drug users in Finland even get prison time.

Personally I think the government should get out of the fine business and make all traffic crimes warrant community service. An hour a business magnate is worth the same as an hour of a desk clerk, neither can get that hour back.

Oberleutnant · Post by **Oberleutnant** » 2004-02-13 09:16am

tharkûn wrote:
They need to hand out more prison time, but one of the problems with that strategy is that the prisons are already filled to overflowing, in large part because of the War on Drugs.
Umm, this is Finland. They pride themselves on reducing the incarceration rate by not sending people to jail. I mean seriously they let murderers apply for "home leaves" and get early release if not parole after a few years.

AFAIK a person convicted of murder usually gets a life sentence here, which means at least ten years in prison.

I don't think drug users in Finland even get prison time.

No, they don't and that's the way it should be.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-02-13 09:36am

It would be interesting to see a similar policy being applied in the US.

GySgt. Hartman · Post by **GySgt. Hartman** » 2004-02-13 12:58pm

Won't happen - it's the rich guys that make the laws. I really wonder how they passed that law in Finland, but I think it's a great idea. Prison time for speeding offenses seem to be a little harsh, and I think 200k will be a noticeable fine, even for a millionaire.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-02-13 01:04pm

For some reason when I first saw the title of this thread I thought His Divine Shadow was the subject of the thread thanks to his recent thread about his new car. My New Car

Just coincidental timing I guess.

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2004-02-13 01:26pm

I wonder I he had bearly broken the limit, or literally flown over the street?

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2004-02-13 01:44pm

Tribun wrote:I wonder I he had bearly broken the limit, or literally flown over the street?

Since he got day fines (päiväsakkoja) he was driving over 25kph over the speed limit.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-02-14 01:31am

The problem I have with this idea is that tickets become a revenue generator instead of a real punishment. If you want to reduce bad driving put them in jail.

GySgt. Hartman · Post by **GySgt. Hartman** » 2004-02-14 08:47am

Don't you think jail time for speeding is a bit excessive?
How is it bad that tickets generate revenue for the state?

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-02-14 10:37am

GySgt. Hartman wrote:Don't you think jail time for speeding is a bit excessive?
How is it bad that tickets generate revenue for the state?

It depends on how much they were speeding and where. I suppose they could always just charge the really bad ones with reckless endangerment and leave the piddly speeding to fines.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2004-02-14 10:40am

TrailerParkJawa wrote:The problem I have with this idea is that tickets become a revenue generator instead of a real punishment. If you want to reduce bad driving put them in jail.

It's a revenue generator if they start fining people for doing 1-3 kph over the limit. This guy was doing 25 kph, he was speeding no matter which way you cut it.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-02-14 11:59am

So what are they going to spend the money on?

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2004-02-14 12:10pm

If you'd sentence people to jail for speeding, 90% of Germany's populace will find themselves in jail

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-02-14 02:52pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:Points on the licence, not monetary fines will deter them.

Yeah, but then you would never get fines like this and then the police wouldn't get to have a whole arsenal of new toys.

"Yeah, umm... do you sell those flak jackets in diamond studded editions?"

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2004-02-14 03:01pm

Good. Teach rich fuckers that the law applies to them, too. Bill Janklow got the lightest possible tap on the fucking wrist for killing Randy Scott last year.