Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

Wealthy Finnish businessman hit with $129,544 speeding fine

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Jun 2023 17:49
3 Min Read

Based on the severity of his offense and his income, Anders Wiklöf failed the system.

  • x
  • Wealthy Finnish businessman hit with $129,544 speeding fine
    Finnish police officer directing drivers on a highway (AFP)

In Finland, where fines are assessed as a percentage of the offender's income, a multimillionaire businessman who drove 30 km/h (18.6 mph) over the limit was given one of the highest speeding fines in the world: €121,000 ($129,544).

The main newspaper for the Åland Islands, an autonomous Finnish territory in the Baltic Sea, quoted 76-year-old Anders Wiklöf as saying, "I really regret the matter" and, "I had just started slowing down, but I guess that didn’t happen fast enough. It’s how it goes."

When he was flashed at 82 km/h, Wiklöf, the chairman and founder of a holding company that earns €350 million annually, claimed the speed limit "suddenly" changed from 70 km/h to 50 km/h.

The severity of the offense and the offender's income are taken into account when determining fines for traffic infractions in Finland, as is customary in the Nordic region. Police can instantly verify this information by connecting via their smartphones to a central taxpayer database.

A "day fine" is determined under the Finnish system using the offender's daily disposable income, which is typically regarded as being equal to half their daily net income. The number of days a driver must pay a fine increases the more they are over the limit.

Related News

Switzerland reopens Tehran embassy

Switzerland shuts Geneva branch of controversial GHF Gaza group

An aggravating aspect was the fact that Wiklöf had previously received two speeding fines. Additionally, his driving privileges were revoked for ten days.

The businessman, whose name is on the Wiklöf Holding Arena in Mariehamn, was fined 63,680 euros ($ 68,176), five years after receiving a 95,000 euros ($102,000) citation for the same infraction.

He said he hoped the fee, equivalent to half his discretionary income over two weeks -- would be spent usefully. "I have heard the government wants to save €1.5bn on healthcare in Finland, so I hope that my money can fill a gap there," the man stated.

For a variety of offenses, including shoplifting and violating securities and financial trading regulations, Finland imposes sliding-scale penalties under the principle that, just as taxation is progressive, so too should fines: the more you make, the more you have to pay.

In 2002, Anssi Vanjoki, a prominent Nokia executive, was fined €116,000 after being discovered doing 75km/h on his Harley-Davidson in a 50km/h zone.

Switzerland, which employs a similar income-based system, is said to have issued the biggest record traffic fine: Sfr3,600 a day for 300 days, or approximately €1.1m, for a Swedish motorist caught speeding at 290km/h between Berne and Lausanne.

Read: Tesla in ‘full self-driving’ mode responsible for 8-car crash: Driver

  • Switzerland
  • Finland
  • Nordic nations
  • tax plan
  • Baltic sea
  • smartp
  • Mariehamn

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS