Skip to main content

Finnish fine fury

A driver reacted with fury following a fine in Finland for a speeding offence. The millionaire was hit with a fine of €54,000 (around £40,000) for driving at 22.4km/h (14mph) over the posted speed limit of 80km/h (50mph). In Finland a national database allows police to view the income of speeding offenders and to set fines in proportion. With the man earning a healthy €6.5 million/year, the fine was deemed appropriate by the authorities. The man however was less than impressed and posted his complaints onli
May 20, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
A driver reacted with fury following a fine in Finland for a speeding offence. The millionaire was hit with a fine of €54,000 (around £40,000) for driving at 22.4km/h (14mph) over the posted speed limit of 80km/h (50mph). In Finland a national database allows police to view the income of speeding offenders and to set fines in proportion. With the man earning a healthy €6.5 million/year, the fine was deemed appropriate by the authorities. The man however was less than impressed and posted his complaints online, although others in the country added comments proving less than sympathetic to his plight. A British driving instructor meanwhile was caught and fined in New Zealand’s South Island for speeding, after being clocked at 176km/h (110mph). The New Zealand police were less than impressed, given that the stretch of road has a posted speed limit of just 96km/h (60mph). The man’s excuse, that he was on an emergency mission taking his father to a toilet, did not hold water. Ironically the British man is a former police officer and his job is now to teach high speed driving skills to officers in the UK.

Related Content

  • New EU-Russian highway connection
    February 18, 2013
    Among the forests and lakes of Finland, one of Europe's newest motorway links is being built as a Green highway linking Europe to Russia - Adrian Greeman reports The road eastwards from Finland's capital Helsinki, along the north coast of the Gulf of Finland, has not carried heavy traffic volumes, at least until recent times. Highway seven as it is designated locally, or E18 in European nomenclature, is partly motorway but in some sections still dual carriageway or even just a single lane each way, finishin
  • Almost gone: Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge deconstructed
    August 14, 2015
    Three years ago a welder’s cut halved Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge. David Arminas reports from the banks of the Fraser River. By the time this issue of World Highways reaches you, one of Canada’s iconic steel arch bridges will be a shadow of its former self. It’s been a three-year demolition job since the first cut across the deck of the old Port Mann Bridge just outside the city of Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific coast. A new 10-lane 2.2km Port Mann Bridge opened in 2012 (see box). It runs parallel to the o
  • Construction equipment market to grow - CEA report
    February 29, 2012
    The UK’s Construction Equipment Association attracted a large audience for its annual general meeting.
  • Distracted driving a problem in the UK
    July 22, 2015
    New research by the UK’s Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) reveals the high risk of distracted driving. Many drivers are using their phones and tablets to take selfies, make video calls and watch videos while at the wheel according to the report. The findings come from research commissioned this month exclusively by the IAM, which asked 500 drivers how they use their smartphones and tablets in the car.