Finnish millionaire receives a $143,196 speed ticket

Finnish millionaire receives a $143,196 speed ticket
Jari Bär, the Finnish millionaire and former proprietor of the Iisalmi’s company Finnritilä was given a penalty of 111,888 Euros ($143,196) for driving at 82 km/h (51mph) in a 60 km/h (37 mph) zone last January in Siilijärvi, Finland. The fine would have only been 115 Euros if the speed was 80km/h.

The enormous penalty for just a speeding ticket was explained this way. In Finland, traffic fines are dependent on the daily income of the violator. Since Mr. Bär was 2 km/h over the speed limit he had to pay an equivalent of his income in 12 days. As it turned out, Mr. Bär’s daily income in 2007 was computed at 9,300 Euros since he sold a majority stocks in his company that year.
Read Article

M53RM53R - 3/11/2009 12:23:09 PM
+3 Boost
What a stupid rule!


HSCenterconsoleHSCenterconsole - 3/11/2009 12:29:54 PM
-13 Boost
Politicians love punishing the rich (ie people who work hard and are succesful).


theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 3/11/2009 5:26:12 PM
+2 Boost
Like Bernie Madoff.


HSCenterconsoleHSCenterconsole - 3/11/2009 12:29:55 PM
-11 Boost
Politicians love punishing the rich (ie people who work hard and are succesful).


JUGNUJUGNU - 3/11/2009 12:37:55 PM
0 Boost
After reading this, i think of kimi. It's good he doesn't live there seeing his job and income. He lives in Switzerland.

JUGNU


answeranswer - 3/11/2009 12:55:34 PM
+1 Boost
Something to brag about I guess.


Threepoint1415926Threepoint1415926 - 3/11/2009 1:24:46 PM
+3 Boost
That's exactly what I was thinking



monstermonster - 3/11/2009 1:24:21 PM
+2 Boost
Are you saying that people who do not have a lot of money don't work hard. Try working as a laborer or construction worker and tell me that it is not a hard work.

Let me give you an example. Say you if a construction worker earns $10k a year gets a speed ticket costing $200. That represents 2% of his salary. Now if the take someone well off (say you for example) and you earn a decent $100K a year. if the ticket costs the same that means you pay a 0.2% of your salary as a ticket. Same offense but different impact of the person.

Now if you reverse the role, and take 2% of your salary that would be $2000 for a ticket. Is it fair. You tell me.


Threepoint1415926Threepoint1415926 - 3/11/2009 1:28:28 PM
+1 Boost
I can see your point, but your idea fails to realize the people who dont work on salary. For example, I'm in real estate. I can make nothing for a year or even two and make three or four years of income on one deal. So should I be charged for when I am making income or when I'm not?


monstermonster - 3/11/2009 1:32:12 PM
+2 Boost
Good point. I did not account for that. I guess this is where the last years salary comes into play.


Threepoint1415926Threepoint1415926 - 3/11/2009 1:37:42 PM
+1 Boost
...but I didnt make an income last year. I made nothing at all, I actually encountered a loss. Maybe I should get paid for speeding :)


HSCenterconsoleHSCenterconsole - 3/11/2009 1:50:30 PM
+2 Boost
Fines for speeding should be based on the violation and nothing else. Let's say Bill Gates and I both get pulled over for going 10mph over the limit. Our fines should be exactly the same. Fines should be "blind" (ex: 10mph over the limit gets you $100 fine no matter what your income is).


Threepoint1415926Threepoint1415926 - 3/11/2009 2:14:30 PM
-1 Boost
I agree with HSCenterconsole to some extent. If a fine simply exists as a deterrent or revenue generator (as is the case for most fines), than all fines should be flat and based on violation. However, if a fine exists as a punishment for breaking the law, the impact of the punishment should be the same for everyone. In terms of prison, we all have one life and so many days. As far as money goes, monster is right, some people just aren't punished by $100 fines.


kablaamkablaam - 3/11/2009 10:05:39 PM
+3 Boost
By your measure, what incentive do I have to study hard in school, be innovative, take prudent risks and hopefully earn a lot of money to take care of my family and future generations? This is what made America the greatest nation on earth.

Liberals are all alike, its sickening and it is destroying America.



mcpercr9mcpercr9 - 3/12/2009 12:46:11 AM
+1 Boost
Dude Bill speeding on his segway?? He is the reason you can have 959s in the US and other non federalized cars!! Big time Porsche guy!


0to600to60 - 3/11/2009 2:21:45 PM
+1 Boost
If I got that kind of a ticket, I would be finnished! LOL, I know, horrible joke. I am so cheesy.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 3/11/2009 5:13:07 PM
0 Boost
Seriously?


sigmabodysigmabody - 3/11/2009 5:17:10 PM
-2 Boost
That'll teach you to live in a country which punishes the rich... stupid Finns...


XYZZXYZZ - 3/12/2009 7:54:02 AM
+1 Boost

precisely!

all the complainers have NO IDEA of the principle behind GRADUATED income (and other) taxes. if all fines were just a fixed, flat amount for everyone, it be but a pittance for those with large incomes. the puny fines (for them) would be NO DETERRENT at all against aggressive driving. which as noted by 1995334, tends be indulged in MORE by richer people.




no1listensanywayno1listensanyway - 3/12/2009 11:02:27 AM
-2 Boost
Stupid Europeans, they punish the wealthy and reward the lazy regular people


Type707Type707 - 3/12/2009 10:31:54 PM
0 Boost
Dam...a 6 digit speeding ticket?...They probably caught him getting a BJ.


JordanskiJordanski - 3/12/2009 11:58:49 PM
0 Boost
WTF. Only 2 km/h above? And its Finland too, you'd think they'd be more sincere. That would never happen here in Canada. I'm positive he can still argue out of that. Seriously though, he was only going 22 kkm/h over the limit. And since their gloat zone is 20 km/h, then he only went 2 km/h over!
Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC