Toronto Maple Leaf player Leo Korarov was fined over $51,000
On my way to see my family Friday I was passed by a rather large SUV. I don’t really care if I’m passed on the highway (as long as it’s a safe maneuver) but this person was going so fast the wind from the vehicle actually moved my car (as often happens when passing transport trucks). With in minutes the passing vehicle was out of sight further testimony to its high rate of speed.
Toronto Maple Leaf player Leo Korarov was fined over $51,000
About 20 minutes later I passed the same SUV at the side of the road being ticketed by the OPP. For everyone’s sake it is a good thing the OPP caught them it would be an expensive ordeal to try and get home early but at least they would be alive as would everyone else on the road.
Fines in Ontario max out in the $10,000 range and generally don’t run over $1000. The upper limit in Alberta $25,000 (yes Alberta Canada). A few years ago a motorcyclist paid out $12,000 in Alberta for a speeding fine. The fines are high to stop speeders on the straight often sparsely populated highways from literally turning public roads into a race track.
Shocked? well the whole idea is that we are not supposed to speed and the faster you go the bigger the fine (who knew).
Think the laws here in Canada are ridiculous well how would you like to be in Finland? Toronto Maple Leaf player Leo Korarov was just fined over $51,000 Canadian (approximately 35,000 Euros) for two speeding tickets (25 to 30 km over the limit)! Why you ask? because the law there takes into account your wages and there can also be jail time. Actually he got off easy in 2002 a wealthy businessman was fined about $200,000 for doing 50 in a 25 mph zone ( a record fine).
Finland is not alone Denmark is similar and Norway and Iceland use a complex formula to calculate fines with 10% of annual income and jail time put into the formula.
I you are headed to the United States the fines are generally lower but if your driving is ruled to be reckless there is mandatory jail time and often a second charge. Who cares? well if you are driving you should and remember the US and Canada share information and that speeding ticket can come back to Canada to haunt your Insurance Rates. To many speeding tickets and Standard or Regular Market Insurance Companies will cancel you on renewal. Too severe a charge and they will also cancel you. After that your Insurance Broker or Agent will be forced to place you with a higher risk market and you will pay even more. Each ticket stays on your record for three years in Ontario and if you think your premium is high now….
So to recap speed = fines, possible jail time, increased chance of injury or death to yourself and others and if you survive higher insurance rates. Your financial future, your drivers license and in the event of a high speed accident your health relies on you be responsible. Labor day weekend is coming up fast how about we all slow down. At the risk of being Cliché wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a long weekend in Ontario with no fatal highway accidents? Lets all give it a try!
