Speeding Tickets in Finland

[ULYCYC]

HELSINKI, Finland -- Jaako Rytsola, a 27-year-old Finnish Internet entrepreneur and newspaper columnist, was cruising in his BMW one recent evening. "The road was wide and I was feeling good," he later wrote. "It's nice to be driving when there's no one in sight."

But this road wasn't empty; a radar-equipped police car was clocking his speed. The officer pulled over Mr. Rytsola's car and issued him a speeding ticket for driving 43 miles an hour in a 25-mile-an-hour zone. The fine: $71,400.

The staggering sum was no mistake. In Finland, traffic fines generally are based on two factors: the severity of the offense and the driver's income. The concept has been embedded in Finnish law for decades: When it comes to crime, the wealthy should suffer as much as the poor. Indeed, sliding-scale financial penalties are also imposed for offenses ranging from shoplifting to securities-law violations. "This is a Nordic tradition," says Erkki Wuoma, special planning adviser at the Ministry of Interior. "We have progressive taxation and progressive punishments. So the more you earn, the more you pay."

But the arrival of a new, high-tech police tool for calculating traffic fines is making some well-to-do Finns progressively furious.

For years, the size of traffic fines was largely dependent on the honor system. Police officers asked violators for their current monthly gross income, then consulted a book of tables to calculate the fine. The police complained that drivers routinely lied -- it was "the national sport," says traffic officer Risto Maksimainen -- and the only recourse was to go to court. Motorists complained, too, arguing that the fines should be based on take-home pay, which given Finland's hefty income-tax rates, is considerably less than gross income.

And so, in October 1999, the Finnish government made some major changes, including basing fines on net income. But the biggest change was this: Using cellular phones, the police can now tap into official tax records, which in Finland are open to the public, and learn within seconds a driver's reported income and the corresponding traffic fine.

A Courtroom Challenge

Keijo Kopra, managing director of Vierumaen Teollisuus Oy, a wood-products company, experienced this firsthand in November 1999. On his way home from work, Mr. Kopra was pulled over for driving 14 miles an hour over the speed limit. Using the new system, the officer wrote him a ticket for $14,500.

Enraged, the executive challenged the amount in court, and a judge lowered it to $9,000. But then the police mentioned that Mr. Kopra had received two previous speeding tickets in 1999 before the new system went into effect. Based on the income he had claimed at the time, each fine was $750. The judge, outraged, imposed additional fines of $38,000 Mr. Kopra remains apoplectic. "This is no constitutionally governed state, this is a land of rhinos!" he says. "This is legalized robbery by police. I'm surprised they're not authorized to shoot you, too. But of course if they shoot you, they cannot get any money out of you."

Rather than pay the fine, Mr. Kopra says he offered to go to jail. The judge refused -- and Mr. Kopra was forced to pay. Teemu Selanne, Finland's most celebrated hockey player and a member of the National Hockey League's Anaheim Mighty Ducks, apparently isn't thrilled with the system, either. In June, he was fined $39,000 for colliding with another car in Finland and injuring five people. Mr. Selanne declined to comment for this story, but a close friend says he was so upset by the fine that he threatened to leave his country for good. "He was really angry because he thought it was not fair," says Hjallis Harkimo, who owns several European sports teams.

Many Finns believe the system is fair. Patrolling the highways outside Helsinki in an unmarked Opel, Officer Maksimainen and his partner, Anssi Ukonaho, clock a red Volkswagen Golf driving 18 miles an hour over the speed limit. They stop the car, and the driver, Janne Rajala, a 26-year-old student, produces his driver's license. Officer Ukonaho whips out his Nokia phone and punches in some numbers, including Mr. Rajala's social-security number.

Within seconds, Mr. Rajala's 1999 tax records appear on the phone's tiny screen: his monthly gross income ($975) and his after-tax income ($724). The screen also flashes his fine: $82. Because this amount is below the minimum fine for driving this fast, the officers write a ticket for $106.

"I think it's okay," Mr. Rajala says, adding he would see nothing wrong with paying more if he earned more. "Why not? When you have so much money, it doesn't matter."

Many politicians here apparently agree. Leena Harkimo, a Conservative Party member of the Finnish Parliament and wife of the sports-team owner, tried to introduce a bill last year that would have capped most speeding tickets at a mere $7,825. But only 29 of the 200 members of parliament supported the legislation. "Some people think it's the only way to get the wealthy people to drive slowly or respect the law," she says. "If they're speeding often, let's make a system where they lose their driver's license easily." Traffic fines go to Finland's treasury to be used for general government purposes. Mr. Rytsola, who was issued the $71,400 speeding ticket in October and another $44,100 ticket in August for zigzagging in downtown Helsinki, says he supports income-based penalties, but with a cap on traffic fines. Under the present system, he says, "if you earn enough you shouldn't even touch a car," noting that accidentally driving too fast could cost the richest Finns hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Government officials concede the new system is more about equity than safety. While the average fine has doubled in the past year to about $219, the number of speeding tickets issued is about the same, and there has been no drop in the number of traffic fatalities. "It's a big problem," says Anna Lisa Tarvainen, a senior officer in the Ministry of Transport. Traffic fines are paid to the Ministry of Justice.

Heikki Summala, a professor of traffic psychology at the University of Helsinki, blames the healthy Finnish economy. "Always when the economy is strong, people drive somewhat faster and have somewhat more accidents," he says. "Some people are simply more in a hurry ... and time is money."

Dr. Summala notes that what makes Finland's new fine system possible is the country's extensive computerized databases and advanced cellular-phone technology. Finland, after all, is home to Nokia Corp., the world's largest

cellular-phone-handset maker, and seven out of every 10 Finns use cell phones. However, given the complexity of the new law, it's hard to imagine that anything short of a supercomputer could calculate a Finnish speeding ticket.

Using an overhead projector back at the Interior Ministry, Mr. Wuoma attempts to explain the math. He takes out a piece of paper covered with long equations, which seem more appropriate for a college class in nuclear physics.

The equations start with a motorist's net monthly income. The figure comes into play whenever a driver is caught going at least 12 miles an hour over the posted limit (below that, the fine is a fixed amount, ranging from $63 to $110). To begin, the driver's monthly net income is reduced by 1,500 Finnish marks ($235) and that total is divided by 60. This figure is supposed to represent a person's daily disposable income. Then, for every dependent, such as a child or nonworking spouse, 15 marks is subtracted. But as many as 20 marks may be added depending on the value of the driver's other assets, including real estate.

The final figure, called a day fine, is then multiplied by a number ranging between one and 120, representing the severity of the violation as determined by the traffic officer. For example, a person driving 20 miles an hour over the limit on a highway in good weather might be assessed 12 day fines.

It all seems to make sense to the traffic officers looking on. "It's so simple," says Mr. Ukonaho.



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ED BAKER
87-T-TYPE, PT54,MSD50's,Crane Billet Roller,JE forged20over,P&P Heads,Manley valves,Hemco 65mm& Acu65TB,V2 FM, P.I.9.5 -7disc,Jimmys Trans, new times soon.
93 PARK AVE"SUPERCHARGED"
67RS/SS350 CAMARO
mailto:ULYCYC@TurboBuicks.comULYCYC@TurboBuicks.com</A>
http://www.modernmusclecar.net

[Jack Evers]

In a way, it makes perfect sense.

Let's say you make $45000 a year. You screw up and are suspended from work for three days without pay. Your paycheck is $540.00 short at the end of the month.

Shaquille O'Neal screws up and is handed a three game suspension without pay. This three game suspension cost him $1,000,000.

Punitive damage judgments against companies are often based on a percentage of net worth. Obviously, a $10,000 punitive damage award would mean nothing to General Motors while it would break Bob & Jim's Screen Door Company.

Fines and penalties based on the ability to pay are far more equitable than our present system.



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[TTA89]

Thats rediculous. What does your income have to do with a speeding ticket? If you speed you pay a fine that should be the same for everyone. If you get enough of them you lose your license....

Thats stupid...

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-Mike
1989 Turbo Trans-Am
11.25@121
Rebuilding Motor

1998 LS1 Trans-Am 6-Speed
13.10@106 *Factory Stock*

[Jack Evers]

Originally posted by TTA89:
Thats rediculous. What does your income have to do with a speeding ticket?

In theory, Mike, your income has everything in the world to do with the amount of a fine.
A "fine" is meant to be a financial means of punishment. Is it truly equitable to fine both Bill Gates and some guy making minimum wage the same $500.00 for a traffic offense. How much of a detriment do you think $500.00 is to Bill Gates. Boy, he sure learned his lesson, didn't he.

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[FamilyMan]

How ironic. I'm going to Finland on Monday. Guess I'd better take a cab!!! O wonder if the price for a cab is based on my income? Socialists.

[Jack Evers]

It would be socialist to charge a rich man more for a loaf of bread than what a poor man pays for the same loaf. That, of course, doesn't happen.

Prices based on the ability to pay and fines based on the ability to pay are two completely separate issues.


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[ULYCYC]

So if you are broke you can speed for free
That dont sound right. I think if you had your licence suspended or taken away it would be fair for all.

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ED BAKER
87-T-TYPE, PT54,MSD50's,Crane Billet Roller,JE forged20over,P&P Heads,Manley valves,Hemco 65mm& Acu65TB,V2 FM, P.I.9.5 -7disc,Jimmys Trans, new times soon.
93 PARK AVE"SUPERCHARGED"
67RS/SS350 CAMARO
mailto:ULYCYC@TurboBuicks.comULYCYC@TurboBuicks.com</A>
http://www.modernmusclecar.net

[Jack Evers]

Originally posted by ULYCYC:
So if you are broke you can speed for free
That dont sound right. I think if you had your licence suspended or taken away it would be fair for all.

Agreed. That would be more equitable than a monetary fine. Course, who gets it in the end anyway? The rich skate on this kind of bull**** because some $225.00 per hour attorney gets the charges set aside.

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[Zap]

Ain't in Finland, ain't gonna go to Finland, don't care about Finland. If they don't care in Finland, why should I care? If they had any sense, they would be Americans.

[TTA89]

I still think its Gay

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-Mike
1989 Turbo Trans-Am
11.25@121
Rebuilding Motor

1998 LS1 Trans-Am 6-Speed
13.10@106 *Factory Stock*

[pat83t]

America is the same in some aspects. In Washington state if you take the time to go to the DMV and get a drivers lisence and you get a ticket, you go into court to arrange for payments. If you forget about a payment they send it to collections and suspend your lisence with out notifing you. Now you are making payments to the collection agency and still don't know your lisence is suspended. Now if you get pulled over they arrest you, impound your car and give you a court summons. If you are found guilty you can lose your lisence for a year, upto a year in jail, and up to $5000.00 fine and you didn't even know it was suspended. If you never bother to go to the DMV and make the effort to get a licence and get pulled over you get a ticket, not arrested, NOT IMPOUNDED, no jail time. And the fine? How is $190.00. I guess it pays to never try to get a licence.

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Mustang, it's what's for dinner.

[PRSRIZD_V6]

Originally posted by Jack Evers:
In theory, Mike, your income has everything in the world to do with the amount of a fine.
A "fine" is meant to be a financial means of punishment. Is it truly equitable to fine both Bill Gates and some guy making minimum wage the same $500.00 for a traffic offense. How much of a detriment do you think $500.00 is to Bill Gates. Boy, he sure learned his lesson, didn't he.

I'm ususally not one for protecting the rich, but that's part of being successful. Meaning if you strike it rich in life then things like this should be a bonus, it's one of the things you don't need to worry about anymore.

Look at David Letterman, he's lost his license because of speeding, that's the part that makes the richers no different from bums like us. Laws are designed effect everyone the same, as they should it's in a little US Document called the constitution, you may have heard of it.

If I hit the lotto all be damned before I let speeding tickets take all my money.

Keep in mind that the money a rich person pays for tickets just makes the state rich, not you or I, and richers pay more taxes as well which also makes the state more money.

Call it sympathy for the devil, but that's the way I see it.

[PRSRIZD_V6]

This is getting me pretty bent.

In Michigan you pay for plates based on the value of your car. Keep don't even look at your car, it's based on the sticker and the year. (I'm not sure but I don't even think the blue book matters)

Why the hell is this?
Q: Does my 98 Park Avenue do more damage to the roads than a 83 Cube Van with a 454.
A: Hell no!

Q: Does my 98 Park Avenue make more pollutants than the 83 454cid Cube van, thus making a penalty for clean air out of it?
A: Hell no!

Q: Does my Park Avenue require more paper work to tag than the cube van, thus the DMV has more wages to pay?
A: Hell no!

Q: Then why the hell are th plates on my Park Ave 5 times more expensive than the cube van.
A: Because appartently, I can afford it. Goes to show what they know

I can't wait to move outta this state. Don't even get me started on "No Fault Insurance" What are things like in AZ?

[forzfed]

Originally posted by PRSRIZD_V6:

Look at David Letterman, he's lost his license because of speeding, that's the part that makes the richers no different from bums like us. Laws are designed effect everyone the same, as they should it's in a little US Document called the constitution, you may have heard of it.

Call it sympathy for the devil, but that's the way I see it.

Must be nice! In Canada if your poor, your basically not penalized. Same for the rich! If your a hard working middle class, well, you should have known better and are sentenced harder. I know lawyer's whom have a glove box full of speeding tickets and parking tickets and fight them and never pay! What is up with that?

I do like the way the State's sentence's an offender for 100yrs or more, wish they would do that here!



[This message has been edited by forzfed (edited January 17, 2002).]

[Black_Magic87]

One question though, Is this in American dollars or Finland currancy. I looked around and couldn't find if it was or not.

Robert