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    How do fines work in Finland?

    Day-fines, fixed fines and why some Finnish fines become very large.

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    Short answer

    Finland has two main types of fines. Fixed fines, rikesakko, have set amounts for minor violations. More serious offences are punished with day-fines, päiväsakko: the number of day-fines, from 1 to 120, reflects the offence, and the euro amount of each depends on the person's income. The minimum day-fine is 6 euros, so fines for people with high incomes can be very large.

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    Why

    1. The Criminal Code sets fines at 1 to 120 day-fines, according to the 2026 government proposal on day-fines.
    2. The same proposal would raise the minimum day-fine from 6 euros to 10 euros as part of the 2027 budget.
    3. The Legal Register Centre says the crime victim surcharge in the fine procedure is 60 euros for offences from 1 January 2026.

    Details

    The police have an online fine calculator that shows how the day-fine amount is estimated from monthly income. Visitors are fined under the same rules as residents.

    Tip

    If you receive a fine and do not understand it, ask the police officer to explain it in English and keep the paper with the payment details.

    What may differ

    Minor traffic violations, such as speeding by up to 20 km/h, are handled with fixed traffic penalty fees rather than day-fines.

    Common misconception

    Tourists cannot be fined in Finland because they have no Finnish income.

    What actually happens

    Visitors can be fined like anyone else, under the same rules that apply to residents.

    People also ask

    • Why are Finnish speeding fines so high?
    • What is a day-fine?
    • How do I pay a fine in Finland as a tourist?

    Sources

    This answer is for reference only. Rules and penalties can change, so check the Finnish authorities before you travel.

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