Rock star got over 7000 Euro ticket for speeding

[Invinoveritas]

(From Finnish media)

The songwriter-guitarist of one of the most popular metal bands in Finland, Timo Tolkki, got a huge ticket for speeding. As hurrying to an interview of a music magazine, Tolkki drove to a motor cycle police's radar on the Hämeenlinna highway.

- According to the radar, my speed was 155 km/h, although theres a limit of 120 km/h, tells Tolkki.

- The police identified me as a musician, and admitted that good conditions were a mitigating fact. Anyhow, he gave me this, says Tolkki and shows a ticket of 7248 Euros.

There was a good reason for the massive ticket.

- The police counted the amount by the income I had at 2003. We published two records that year, so my income was good.

(Then there's normal stuff about Stratovarius, things we all know)

- That amount is so heavy, that I will complain, says Tolkki.

(Then the fact that the world tour will happen in the autumn)


Too bad, Timo. I hope complaining will lead to a result.

[MaFiaBoY]

7248 euros Bad luck Timo :p

[Twilight Legionnaire]

What the hell... ticket based on income? That's bloody ridiculous.. just a way to get money from people.

Good luck with the appeal Timo

[MaFiaBoY]

What the hell... ticket based on income? That's bloody ridiculous.. just a way to get money from people.

OTOH it prevents some people who have money for doing whatever they want. We often see rich people who drive very fast and don't give a damn about it, if they have a ticket they just pay it and continue their fast driving.

[MetalAngel]

(From Finnish media)

The songwriter-guitarist of one of the most popular metal bands in Finland, Timo Tolkki, got a huge ticket for speeding. As hurrying to an interview of a music magazine, Tolkki drove to a motor cycle police's radar on the Hämeenlinna highway.

- According to the radar, my speed was 155 km/h, although theres a limit of 120 km/h, tells Tolkki.

- The police identified me as a musician, and admitted that good conditions were a mitigating fact. Anyhow, he gave me this, says Tolkki and shows a ticket of 7248 Euros.

There was a good reason for the massive ticket.

- The police counted the amount by the income I had at 2003. We published two records that year, so my income was good.

(Then there's normal stuff about Stratovarius, things we all know)

- That amount is so heavy, that I will complain, says Tolkki.

(Then the fact that the world tour will happen in the autumn)


Too bad, Timo. I hope complaining will lead to a result.

the next time Timo, don't speed too much. Rather take a walk through the countryland...

[Beast_Pete]

(1943+15)

And why year 2003? Why not 2004? It's not nice from the police. :grr:

[Stratofanius]

And why year 2003? Why not 2004?

They get more money by this way

[NeonVomit]

Makes sense actually. Tickets based on income are actually good, seeing how some of those stupid rich fuckers in London drive

Well I guess Timo made a mistake... he IS human after all!!

[MaFiaBoY]

Well I guess Timo made a mistake... he IS human after all!!

At least he wasn't drunk

[Twilight Legionnaire]

What the hell... ticket based on income? That's bloody ridiculous.. just a way to get money from people.

OTOH it prevents some people who have money for doing whatever they want. We often see rich people who drive very fast and don't give a damn about it, if they have a ticket they just pay it and continue their fast driving.

True, you do have a point there. It's just not a problem we face often, over here.

[Fireblade]

Appealing may not reduce Timo's fine, but it will draw attention to the corruption in authority that exists. Maybe this will happen less often in future??? (or I'm too hopeful )

I think that a ticket based on earnings is totally unfair and an abuse of power. So much for authority being there to protect the people... exploiting does not come in the "protection" category.

Anyone know the normal fine for speeding on that road?

[fifthtea_sausage]

Wow, Timo must be a complete asshole.
Next time he'll kill someone.

I would, however, like proof of this rumor.

[TimoTolkki]

Wow, Timo must be a complete asshole.
Next time he'll kill someone.

I would, however, like proof of this rumor.

It was completely clear road with no cars.
And I was in a hurry to Soundi interview.
But you are right. I am sometimes such an asshole. I am sorry.
It will not happen again.

[brought2ubyletterC]

Don't you hate it when the man tries to stiff you? Don't feel bad Timo, we got a $75 ticket just a month ago when we parked in front of a store to pick up something at the door (which literally took two minutes), and the cop gave the ticket because we weren't supposed to park there (though the merchant gave us his permission that we could!). Grr...

I know $75 isn't as bad as your fine, but that's $75 I could have spent on something I *like*!

[Jack]

...I dont like it. Charging a famous and possibly rich person 7000$ for a speeding ticket, is the same thing as letting a famous and possibly rich person get away with a 0$ speeding ticket. It's discrimination, and shouldn't be done, and yet it is.... nobody should be above, or below, the law.

[Fireblade]

Well I think Timo does not need a bunch of strangers to tell him he is a naughty boy.

Still I think he should have the same fine as Joe Bloggs would get for speeding at the same speed on the same road.

Btw everyone is an "asshole" sometimes... so what? But us Bloggs' get away with it somehow.

[soulforged the secon]

....this smells like greek authorities(shit).....
timo what car do you drive??

[NordicStorm]

On the contrary. A fine is supposed to be a deterrent. Which means it's supposed to hurt your wallet. If everyone got a €100 speeding ticket, it would deter people of lower income more than people who wipe their asses with €100 bills.[1]
Not that I think the government particularly objects to the extra cash they make out of the deal.
Now, I don't know anything about Timo Tolkki's wealth and whether a €7000 fine is fair based on his income, and of course most who drive too fast never get caught.
But the general principle I certainly understand.


[1] I'm not suggesting that anyone in particular is in fact using money as toilet paper. Apart from Bill Gates.

[NeonVomit]

Meh. Im sure someone who complains about Timos driving is a complete saint on the road

I wish I could speed. I drive a 1972 VW Beetle that just about reaches 80km/h if I'm going downhill

[HvyMtlClickWitch]

I've only been pulled over once, and the cop let me go.....it's not as if Mr. Tolkki has 10000000 warning citations compiled in his glove compartment. Somehow he just doesn't strike me as a 'repeat offender'. I feel as if some mercy was in order, certainly.

But you are right. I am sometimes such an asshole. I am sorry.
It will not happen again.

Aye, but you do not need to apologise to us, much less to Captain_Condescending there. Save those confessions for the God of Traffic Tickets, eh?

[Jaakko]

Err. Actually the ticket is most probably because he hasn't done that too much before, of 35 km/h speeding some people lose their license and have to go back to driving school. The cop must've been Strato fan

[Electric Eye]

only 155 km/h? quite small, considering the fact that his life goes by at the speed of light...

[NeonVomit]

Consider yourselves lucky that you guys can even go OVER the speed limit! With my car, I have to have a strong tailwind in order to even get close...

[HvyMtlClickWitch]

only 155 km/h? quite small, considering the fact that his life goes by at the speed of light...

Haha, i agree. Actually, i had first thought upon reading that, "hey, that's not so bad". But then again, i'm not the appropriate person to give such opinions, as i hold the belief that once it is dark outside, speed limits aren't in effect any more.

*Paints face and raises a sign reading "Free Timo!"*

[cliff]

Err. Actually the ticket is most probably because he hasn't done that too much before, of 35 km/h speeding some people lose their license and have to go back to driving school. The cop must've been Strato fan

The worst would be if he had more than 1g/l alcohol in his blood. Then they would ask him to play the guitar for some finnish popstar band. That would be the worst thing ever !

Seriously, I think this rule with the prices of tickets depending on the incoming is a great thing. If the price is fix, "rich" people would not give a shit about driving fast (cause this ticket price would represents nothing to them) and it would be a bad thing for "poor" people because the price would represent a lot to them. So if you say for ex that the price for the ticket is 1/10 of the frauder's incoming, then rich and poor people will be equally "punished".

Still, without blaming Timo in his mistake (we all do mistakes, asshole or not! ), but I think people who drives extremely fast are criminals (just like people who commit murders). And also people who uses their phone while driving. People just think it's "normal" to hold a phone while driving, that they can handle it, but this is totally wrong.

Recently, I heard a lot about some "friends" of mine, who had car accidents (few of them even passed away). They were driving normally, no high-speed, no alcohol, they respected road signs and so on, but the accidents were always caused by some silly people who drave too fast, or used their phone, or didn't stop at the red light, or were totally drunk and drave on the highway in the wrong way...

People who drive too fast or who respect the rules, should be aware that they don't only risk their own life, but they also risk the life or other people. Thus they should be aware that car accident is the first death cause, way far before cancer or drug abuse. Anyway.

[HvyMtlClickWitch]

And also people who uses their phone while driving.

People on the fucking phone......motherfuc.....grrrrrrr......:pissed5:

[MaFiaBoY]

Err. Actually the ticket is most probably because he hasn't done that too much before, of 35 km/h speeding some people lose their license and have to go back to driving school. The cop must've been Strato fan

Recently, I heard a lot about some "friends" of mine, who had car accidents (few of them even passed away). They were driving normally, no high-speed, no alcohol, they respected road signs and so on, but the accidents were always caused by some silly people who drave too fast, or used their phone, or didn't stop at the red light, or were totally drunk and drave on the highway in the wrong way...

Absolutely right. Since one of them almost killed the love of my life I hate those motherf***ers who drive when they're completely drunk.

[Stratofanius]

Using phone in car at Finland is crime
Or not crime, but it's not legal... or something

[MaFiaBoY]

Using phone in car at Finland is crime
Or not crime, but it's not legal... or something

It's illegal in France too, but some people don't give a damn about it and still do it

[stratoplayer]

woah, and i thought that the new fine for 2200 pesos (bout 200 dollars US) was a bit too expensive, damn