SDP MP Joona Räsänen’s request to increase drunk-driving fine rejected by court
The Länsi-Uusimaa District Court has dismissed a request by Social Democratic Party (SDP) Member of Parliament Joona Räsänen to increase the fine he received for drunk driving earlier this year. The decision has now entered into force.
Räsänen was caught driving under the influence in Espoo in April, with a blood alcohol level of 0.68 per mil (Helsingin Sanomat). A breathalyser test at the time showed a reading of over 0.5 per mil (Ilta-Sanomat). He was subsequently fined, but the amount was later deemed too low in relation to his income.
The fine, which consisted of 40 day-fines and a €60 crime victim surcharge, totalled €2,300. However, Helsingin Sanomat reports that the fine should have been approximately €1,000 higher based on Räsänen’s actual income. Räsänen argued that the fine was insufficient because his net income had been underestimated in the initial assessment.
According to Helsingin Sanomat, Räsänen accepted an income assessment provided by the police, which he later contested. The police have stated that Räsänen did not commit fine fraud, despite some ambiguity during the preliminary investigation. A field officer present at the time of Räsänen’s inspection recalled him mentioning a decrease in income, a claim Räsänen has denied (Ilta-Sanomat).
Räsänen’s request to the court to increase his fine was described as exceptional by Ilta-Sanomat, noting that it is rare for a fined individual to seek a higher penalty. The court, however, did not examine the request, ruling that Räsänen had no need for legal protection—a prerequisite for the matter to be considered.
Räsänen, one of the most prominent MPs in the largest opposition party, has acknowledged his drunk driving as a serious error in judgment (Ilta-Sanomat).
