Home > Statistics > Prosecutions, sentences and punishments > 2020 > Twenty-four per cent more summary penal orders and fine orders were issued for traffic offences than in the year before

Published: 23 September 2021

Twenty-four per cent more summary penal orders and fine orders were issued for traffic offences than in the year before

According to Statistics Finland’s data, 24 per cent more fine orders were issued by the police in 2020 than in the previous year for traffic offences referred to in Chapter 23 of the Criminal Code. Most of them concerned endangerment of traffic safety. Summary penal orders issued by the prosecutor for traffic offences increased by 27 per cent compared with 2019.

Fine orders for traffic offences (Criminal Code, Chapter 23) in 2017 to 2020, number

Nearly the same number of fine orders were issued in 2020 as in 2019. Correspondingly, the total number of summary penal orders was over seven per cent higher than one year previously. In 2020, a total of 8,204 fine orders were issued for traffic violations. Before the traffic penalty fee was introduced, about 20,000 fine orders were issued annually for traffic violations.

In 2020, a total of around 121,770 petty fines were issued, which is 60 per cent fewer than one year earlier. Most petty fines are issued for traffic violations. In 2020, a total of 95 per cent of all petty fines were traffic violations. The decrease in petty fines is caused by the introduction of the traffic penalty fee, which replaced petty fines in road traffic (traffic infraction) starting from 1 June 2020. Eighty-four per cent of petty fines were issued by means of automatic traffic control.

Petty fines in 2007 to 2020, number

Imputable violations against the Emergency Powers Act numbered 88

The Emergency Powers Act entered into force in spring 2020 and 1 to 120 day fines can be imposed for violating it. In spring 2020, there were 88 imputable violations of the Emergency Powers Act. The main offence in 85 fines was the violation of the Emergency Powers Act. All violations of the Emergency Powers Act concerned unauthorised crossing of the border of the region of Uusimaa. Most of these were summary penal orders confirmed by the prosecutor. The average fine for violating the Emergency Powers Act was EUR 309.7.

Ten per cent fewer persons sentenced by courts of first instance

The number of persons sentenced has been falling since 2005, apart from the rise in 2018. In 2020, the number of persons sentenced in courts of first instance was ten per cent lower than one year previously and over 21 per cent lower than ten years ago. The number of persons sentenced to imprisonment was over seven per cent lower and that of those sentenced to a fine 11 per cent lower than in 2019.

Persons sentenced in court by offence in 2016 to 2020, number

Share of foreigners in all sentenced has decreased

In 2020, there were considerably fewer foreigners sentenced who did not have a permanent place of residence in Finland than one year earlier. In all, 5.1 per cent of all persons sentenced (excl. petty fines) were foreigners who did not have a permanent place of residence in Finland in 2020. This is 2.3 percentage points lower than one year previously.

Share of foreigners (no permanent place of residence in Finland) in 2018 to 2020

Source: Prosecutions, sentences and punishments 2020, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Salla Tuominiemi 029 5513 691, rikos@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Updated 23.9.2021