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Police Revise Speeding Fine Procedures

The Finnish Police will standardize procedures across the country for dealing with cases of traffic speeding from the beginning of next month. After the change, on-the-spot fines will be issued whenever speed limits are exceeded by at least 11 kilometers per hour.

Kaksi autoa poliisin ratsiassa.
Uusi valtakunnallinen linjaus ohjeistaa antamaan rikesakon 7 km/h ylinopeudesta. Uusi käytäntö astuu voimaan lokakuun alussa. Image: YLE

Until now, the threshold for issuing fines for speeding violations has varied in various parts of Finland.

Police will also issue drivers with a caution if they exceed speed limits by 6 to 10 kilometers per hour. In certain cases just a verbal caution will be given. Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero stresses the importance of intervening to advise drivers of the importance of observing speed limits.

The cost of fines is dependent of the level of speeding in relation to the speed limit on the stretch of road in question.

Police also intend to step up vigilance at locations near schools and day care centers. Accident black spots will also come under a more watchful police eye.

Last year, some 343 people died on Finnish roads. Police guidelines aim at bringing the number of road fatalities down next year to 250 and to less than 100 by the year 2025.

Sources: YLE