Salminen, who takes up his new post in January, proposes that such cases should not be taken through the courts.
He emphasizes, though, that instant fines were inappropriate for repeat offenders and in cases of aggravated drink driving.
The new policy would allow police resources to concentrate on other crimes such as burglaries, reports the newspaper Aamulehti. Around 20,000 drivers are caught drunk at the wheel annually in Finland.