Finnish Police Issue $216,900 Speeding Ticket
HELSINKI, Finland - Police gave a record $216,900 speeding ticket to one of Finland's richest men under a system in which traffic fines are linked to an offender's income, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
Millionaire Jussi Salonoja zoomed through a 25-mph zone in downtown Helskinki and police handed him the hefty ticket, the Iltalehti tabloid reported. It didn't say what his speed was.
The fine was based on information police got directly for the Finland revenue office, the newspaper said.
Salonoja, 27, could not be reached for comment, and police declined to discuss the case until it reaches the Helsinki Regional Court.
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's mobile phones division, landed a $148,000 ticket after being caught going 45 mph in a 30-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 the high fine sparked outrage. Despite weeks of Parliament debates, discussions on TV shows and expressions of disgust in the media, the system remained in place.
Other hefty speeding tickets have included a $71,000 fine for a professional hockey player.
Bonus for reading whole post:
Wrecked ENZO
<!--EDIT|Let 'er eat!
Reason for Edit: None given...|1076549425 -->
HELSINKI, Finland - Police gave a record $216,900 speeding ticket to one of Finland's richest men under a system in which traffic fines are linked to an offender's income, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
Millionaire Jussi Salonoja zoomed through a 25-mph zone in downtown Helskinki and police handed him the hefty ticket, the Iltalehti tabloid reported. It didn't say what his speed was.
The fine was based on information police got directly for the Finland revenue office, the newspaper said.
Salonoja, 27, could not be reached for comment, and police declined to discuss the case until it reaches the Helsinki Regional Court.
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's mobile phones division, landed a $148,000 ticket after being caught going 45 mph in a 30-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 the high fine sparked outrage. Despite weeks of Parliament debates, discussions on TV shows and expressions of disgust in the media, the system remained in place.
Other hefty speeding tickets have included a $71,000 fine for a professional hockey player.
Bonus for reading whole post:
Wrecked ENZO
<!--EDIT|Let 'er eat!
Reason for Edit: None given...|1076549425 -->
