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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 26, 2015 - 03:18am PT
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Speeding in Finland Can Cost a Fortune, if You Already Have One
By SUZANNE DALEY
The Finnish "day fine" system, which factors in income when calculating penalties for infractions, is causing a debate in a nation with an egalitarian streak. One millionaire, for example, was fined 54,024 euros (about $58,000) for a traffic ticket.
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ECF
Big Wall climber
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Apr 26, 2015 - 03:34am PT
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Sweet!
If I'm broke, is it free?
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JimT
climber
Munich
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Apr 26, 2015 - 04:39am PT
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Cheap at twice the price.
Marco Rues (a well-paid German soccer player) got hit end of last year for €540,000 ($587,110 in your money) for driving without a license. It could have been worse- 1 year in prison and over $1 million fine (180 days X €6,000 daily income).
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Apr 26, 2015 - 08:10am PT
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I actually agree with this system.
A similar problem: In Beverly Hills they are trying to implement water conservation. The uber rich attitude is "how much is the water - I'll buy it" You could raise their lawn water price to twice the cost of Perrier and they would just pay it.
And yes, if you are broke beggar, dirtbag climber, and you get a speeding ticket and your net worth is $15.00 USD, you'd not get a fine but a night in the slammer. 'tis fair.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Apr 26, 2015 - 08:30am PT
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If the idea is to make a fine be a deterrent..then this is the only way I can see to do it.
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Byran
climber
San Jose, CA
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Apr 26, 2015 - 08:53am PT
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The main problem I see is that this sort of system would lead to rich people being unfairly targeted and prosecuted for traffic violations. In the US (I don't know how it works in Finland), parking and traffic tickets are a major source of revenue for many municipalities. So for some minor infraction for a regular Joe, the officer might just give a warning, or the court might drop it. But if $58k is on the line because the person is a billionaire, then you can be sure they'll do everything possible to get that money. So we'd have to get rid of the financial incentive for writing and prosecuting traffic tickets, which is probably a good idea anyways.
Then that just leaves the bureaucratic nightmare of having to determine a persons "income" for every single traffic ticket that's ever written. Tax season would be year round.
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hellroaring
Trad climber
San Francisco
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Apr 26, 2015 - 09:03am PT
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Targeting rich people? My god what a sweet world that would be. I could have a blast tearing it up in my Ferrari AND help my local school, food bank, etc. Now that's a win/win.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Apr 26, 2015 - 09:05am PT
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So we'd have to get rid of the financial incentive for writing and prosecuting traffic tickets, which is probably a good idea anyways.
Fair point ..how?
Not sure where fine revenue goes in most cases. Probably varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
But perhaps above a certain amount per ticket should go to a state fund for something specific? Roads..schools.. welfare.. whatever.
Oh well I doubt we will see any place in the USA do this anytime soon. Hmm maybe though... states do like revenue and politicians could buy into something this justifiable.
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Moof
Big Wall climber
Orygun
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Apr 26, 2015 - 03:08pm PT
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If the rich were targeted unfairly, how is that worse than the poor being targeted unfairly today? The rich can fight back, the poor can't afford a decent lawyer to fight an unfair system stacked against them. Fines proportional to income would be fantastic.
What make the Norway system work is that tax returns are considered a public record, so anyone can look up anyone else's returns, including the cops who write the ticket.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 26, 2015 - 08:32pm PT
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My bro-in-law up here in Canuckistan said if they nick you for doing over 150 kph they
automatically impound yer car. 90 mph is speeding? Really? Effing socialists. When
will they start cracking down on the truly incompetent?
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zBrown
Ice climber
Brujò de la Playa
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Apr 26, 2015 - 08:52pm PT
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Back in the USSA.
Fines or Penalties
You cannot deduct fines or penalties you pay to a governmental unit for violating a law. This includes an amount paid in settlement of your actual or potential liability for a fine or penalty (civil or criminal). Fines or penalties include parking tickets, tax penalties, and penalties deducted from teachers' paychecks after an illegal strike.
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