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Finn's speed fine is a bit rich
One of Finland's richest men has been handed a record 170,000 euros speeding ticket, thanks to
the country's policy of relating the fine to your income. Jussi Salonoja, the 27-year-old heir
to a family-owned sausage empire, was given the £116,000 ticket after being caught driving
80kph in a 40kph zone.
Helsinki police came up with the figure after tax office data showed that Mr Salonoja earned
close to £7m in 2002.
If his penalty stands it will beat the previous record of almost 80,000 euros.
That figure (£54,000) was paid in 2000 by Finnish internet millionaire Jaakko Rytsola, when he
was caught speeding.
Yet Mr Salonoja could yet get his penalty reduced, as was the case with Nokia executive
Anssi Vanjoki.
In 2002, Mr Vanjoki's 116,000 euros fine was reduced by no less than 95% due to his drop in
income following a downturn in the mobile phone maker's profits.