This is a record this Finn would surely have gladly done without. In this northern European country, a businessman was fined 121,000 euros for speeding, one of the highest in the world, reports the British media The Guardian.
Sure enough, Anders Wiklöf flashed at 82 km/h, or 30 km/h above the authorized limit where he was driving. And if the fine is so high, it’s because the businessman is… a billionaire. However, in Finland, speeding fines are calculated based on the offender’s income.
“I’m really sorry about what happened,” the 76-year-old told Finnish media.
Anders Wiklöf, founder of a company that bills 350 million euros a year, also explained that the speed limit of the road he was on had increased “suddenly” from 70 to 50 km/h. He went on to claim that he had no choice but to be flashed.
Already convicted of speeding
The businessman had already been convicted of speeding twice, in 2013 and 2018. He was then fined a first fine of 95,000 euros and then a second of 63,680 euros.
However, these past penalties are an aggravating factor in calculating what you must pay today. In Finland, fines for traffic offenses are also calculated based on the severity of the offence. The billionaire’s license was also withdrawn for ten days.
Reduced sanctions in other areas
The Finn stressed that he hoped the sum to be paid, which is equal to half of his disposable income for 14 days, would be spent wisely.
“I heard that the government wants to save 1.5 billion euros on healthcare in Finland, so I hope my money can fill a gap in this area,” he said.
Finland also imposes graduated penalties in areas other than speeding, for example, for shoplifting and violations of securities and financial transactions laws.
The country assumes that since taxation is progressive, fines should also be. In short, the more you earn, the more you pay.
In 2002, Anssi Vanjoki, a senior executive at Nokia, had already been sentenced to a fine, to say the least: he had to pay 116,000 euros after being caught driving at 75 km/h on his Harley Davidson in a zone limited to 50 km/h. h. .
Source: BFM TV
