Don't get caught speeding in Sweden ;)

NotaSuv

One Swedish motorist could be facing a gargantuan speeding fine — up to $962,000 — after he was caught driving 180 mph along a Swiss motorway.

Police seized the Swede's driver's license and 570-horsepower black Mercedes-Benz after he was released from police custody, The Local, a website that covers Swedish news, reported. He could face a penalty of up to 1 million Swiss francs — or $962,000 — depending on his income level, The Local reported.

In Switzerland speeding fines are based on the severity of the offense and the offender's income level.

Police said the 37-year-old motorist was driving so fast in this $240,000 sports car that it took him nearly half a mile to stop.

Swiss officials did not know if it was a record, but that it "looks very close to one," federal roads office spokesman Thomas Rohrbach told AFP.

"We have no record of anyone being caught traveling faster in the country," a police spokesman told Britain's Daily Telegraph on Friday.

The driver's explanation to officers: "I think the speedo on the car, which is new, is faulty."

A speed camera on the A12 highway between Bern and Lausanne captured the transgression.

Police said he had eluded being zapped by numerous radars en route simply because he was going too fast and they were unable to clock speeds beyond 125 mph. A newer camera perched along the motorway was able to snap his offense.

It's not the first time someone has had to pay such a hefty fine in Europe for speeding. And even lower speeds can generate big fines.

In January, a Swiss court slapped a $290,000 speeding ticket on a millionaire Ferrari driver who drove 60 mph (nearly twice the 30 mph limit) through a small village.

The head of Finnish communications giant Nokia was ordered to may a $103,000 fine for his speeding ticket in 2002. Officers pulled over Anssi Vanjoki on his cherry red Harley Davidson in Helsinki after he was clocked driving 47 mph in a 31-mph zone.

In Finland, traffic fines are also proportionate to an offender's crime and income level.

Polkitup2

Not 180, but pretty good for Minnesota:

http://www.startribune.com/local/100371779.html

F1nut

Police seized the Swede's driver's license and 570-horsepower black Mercedes-Benz after he was released from police custody, The Local, a website that covers Swedish news, reported. He could face a penalty of up to 1 million Swiss francs — or $962,000 — depending on his income level, The Local reported.

In January, a Swiss court slapped a $290,000 speeding ticket on a millionaire Ferrari driver who drove 60 mph (nearly twice the 30 mph limit) through a small village.

The head of Finnish communications giant Nokia was ordered to may a $103,000 fine for his speeding ticket in 2002. Officers pulled over Anssi Vanjoki on his cherry red Harley Davidson in Helsinki after he was clocked driving 47 mph in a 31-mph zone.

Absolutely ridiculous fines. :rolleyes:

texas ed

I would not want to own a sportbike over there...........eddie

sda2mike

my buddy exports harleys to finland...lot's of them...they look goofy and out of place there...along with classic american cars...saw some old caddys and chevys there..looked like aircraft carriers burbling thru helsinki...my wife got pulled over in finland..cop asked her income..she lied..she does sport (.)(.) though...so she got off relatively easy...the traffic does go slow through town

cstmar01

eh....if you got the money to drop on a car like that, and want to drive it fast. do it in the right place I guess.

otherwise I would not live there, I think a 15 dollar parking ticket is insane...(yes I'm cheap in those terms).

stupid police, reminds me of a song, however I would get banned for it if stated. lol

tommyboy

F1nut wrote: »

Absolutely ridiculous fines. :rolleyes:

He was going 180 mph on a public road and thats all you have to say!? He should never be allowed behind the wheel ever again.

And what is wrong with the fine system they have there? Getting a $100 ticket for me (just graduated from college two weeks ago) would hurt big time. But for someone that has millions, you can't even call it a slap on the wrist... Maybe they have this in place of a points system I don't know.

cokewithvanilla

NotaSuv wrote: »

The driver's explanation to officers: "I think the speedo on the car, which is new, is faulty."

Gotta give him credit, he tried.

cokewithvanilla

tommyboy wrote: »

And what is wrong with the fine system they have there? Getting a $100 ticket for me (just graduated from college two weeks ago) would hurt big time. But for someone that has millions, you can't even call it a slap on the wrist... Maybe they have this in place of a points system I don't know.

Really?

100 dollars to you is equal to 1 million for him?

you make .01% the amount of money he does? So, if you have a part time job making min wage, he must make, what? 50,000-70,000 an hour? Must be nice.

I feel you, I'm in college and just got a 474 dollar ticket, but there is no way I think that someone should pay a fine ten thousand times bigger than mine simply because they are successful.

tommyboy

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Really?

100 dollars to you is equal to 1 million for him?

you make .01% the amount of money he does? So, if you have a part time job making min wage, he must make, what? 50,000-70,000 an hour? Must be nice.

I feel you, I'm in college and just got a 474 dollar ticket, but there is no way I think that someone should pay a fine ten thousand times bigger than mine simply because they are successful.

I didn't mean it that way but ok. First, my 100 ticket didn't say I was going 180 mph. Second, the whole point of this fine is to be of some significance to where it fincancially effects you so you won't do it again.

My 100 ticket might not have been 100 in switzerland. Maybe it takes a percentage of your yearly income I have no clue, but I'm sure this fellow is worth much more than 1 million

cokewithvanilla

tommyboy wrote: »

I didn't mean it that way but ok. First, my 100 ticket didn't say I was going 180 mph. Second, the whole point of this fine is to be of some significance to where it fincancially effects you so you won't do it again.

My 100 ticket might not have been 100 in switzerland. Maybe it takes a percentage of your yearly income I have no clue, but I'm sure this fellow is worth much more than 1 million

he might be 'worth much more than a million' but you are also worth much more than 100. See?

I do get what you are saying about it affecting you financially, but I still don't agree.

F1nut

tommyboy wrote:

He was going 180 mph on a public road and thats all you have to say!? He should never be allowed behind the wheel ever again.

And what is wrong with the fine system they have there? Getting a $100 ticket for me (just graduated from college two weeks ago) would hurt big time. But for someone that has millions, you can't even call it a slap on the wrist... Maybe they have this in place of a points system I don't know.

Thanks for answering your own questions....

tommyboy wrote:

I have no clue

disneyjoe7

I driven 160+ mph on public roads. Most Polkies won't ride with me knowing this, its going to be lonely now.

cokewithvanilla

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

I driven 160+ mph on public roads. Most Polkies won't ride with me knowing this, its going to be lonely now.

Many people with nice cars or bikes do that... I mean really, who buys a fast car to go 70 on the interstate (and don't tell me it's unsafe. If 70 is safe for grandma in an 86' caddy, then an experienced driver with a tuned track car can exceed that limit without being unsafe)

nadams

Actually, I should move to Sweden. They'd end up owing me money.

SivaNevets

gotta be a SLS AMG