From 1 February this year, the fine rates for simplified fines for traffic offenses increased by 30 per cent, so that from now on it costs NOK 9,700 if you are caught using a mobile phone illegally behind the wheel – or if you run a red light. The rate is also the same if you keep too short a distance to the driver in front.
This has attracted a lot of attention.
The high-profile lawyer Anders Brosveet at Elden Advokatfirma is one of those who have reacted strongly. In an interview with Broom, he points out that there must be proportionality between the offense and the fine rate. He believes that the new rates most of all show that the government is looking to bring in as much money as possible.
Do not accept the submission
– The government is welcome to set unreasonably high rates for simplified orders, but if the road user refuses to accept the simplified order, the fine must be assessed by the court according to normal principles for sentencing, says Broosveet, who recommends those who believe the fines are too high not to accept the order – but take the case to court.
Brosveet is not the only one to react:
– Like the Norwegian Police Directorate and the Oslo Police District, UP disagreed in its consultation response to the case with the proposal to increase the standardized rates for simplified summonses for traffic offenses by as much as 30 per cent. Ultimately, it is the politicians who decide. For our part, we take note that they have chosen a different view on this than us, says UP chief Knut Smedsrud to Broom.
Even more expensive from today – here are the new fine rates in traffic
CRITICAL: Anders Brosveet is a lawyer and managing partner at Elden Advokatfirma. He is strongly critical of the sharp increase in traffic fine rates that was introduced on 1 February.
High speed
– How is an increase of exactly 30 per cent justified and how is this calculated?
Broom asks the question to the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness, where State Secretary Geir Indrefjord (SP) replies as follows:
– In light of the alarming development in the number of deaths in traffic, it is important for the government and the community to send a clear signal that putting your own life and that of others at risk – for example by driving very much over the speed limit – is something we want less on Norwegian roads.
– A nominal increase of 30 per cent this year, or 20 per cent above inflation in recent years seen as a whole, represents such a signal. That more people stick to the speed limit helps reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured in traffic. High speed is an important reason for accidents, and for the outcome of accidents to be more serious. If you stick to the speed limit, you make an important contribution to reducing the number of people killed in traffic while at the same time completely removing the risk of getting a speeding ticket, writes the state secretary in an email.
Dont answer
He therefore does not justify the drastic increase in fine rates, not even when Broom repeats the question and calls for an answer to what we actually asked:
– How is an increase of exactly 30 percent justified? How is this calculated?
This question has not been answered, nor has any justification been given as to why.
– The government cannot have faith in this even once, says Morten Stordalen (FrP) Photo: FrP
Desire for additional income?
– What do other players think about traffic and safety?
Broom has put the question to NAF, KNA, FrP and Trygg Trafikk, and here are the answers we received.
– Here the government must have done something they don’t even believe in themselves, says Morten Stordalen, transport policy spokesman in the FrP to Broom.
– The reason for the increase is that the high level of fines should deter motorists from these offences. But when an additional income for the state of NOK 241 million is still calculated, it suggests the opposite – the expectation should have been reduced fine income. Rather, it may look as if the motivation has been to create additional income for the state. It is of course also a cross of thought that professional bodies such as the Norwegian Police Directorate and UP have been negative about such a high increase in fine rates now, concludes Morten Stordalen.
– It is important for safety that people keep their eyes on the road, and not allow themselves to be distracted by other things, says NAF chief Stig Skjøstad.
– High fine rates are perfectly fine, taking into account the risk that inattention entails. Today, lack of attention is precisely one of the most important causes of accidents in traffic, says Skjøstad.
– Seems a bit unmusical with such an increase now, says Børre Skiaker in KNA. Photo: KNA
Special times
At KNA, the view is slightly different.
– We believe the fine rates were high enough as they were, says Secretary General Børre Skiaker to Broom.
– For us, it seems a bit unmusical with such a sharp increase in the rates in all areas now, perhaps with an exception for hand-held mobile phones. Inattention related to mobile phone use is dangerous, and seems to be increasing. Directing attention to something that is unimportant to driving is dangerous – and for the sake of safety, it is important to succeed in deterrence here, says Skiaker, who is more reserved in relation to even higher speeding fines.
– We are somewhat more critical of this, and have a slightly more nuanced picture than the prevailing one from the authorities here. Times are a bit special now, with expensive fuel, high electricity and food prices – and interest rate increases. At the same time, a small speeding violation can give the “culprit” a big bill. We think that it must be possible to work on a few other things as well – rather than measures that almost force people to their knees financially, says Børre Skiaker.
– It is not our role to define how big the fines should be, says press manager Christoffer Steen in Trygg Trafikk. Photo: Trygg Trafikk
Big risk
In Trygg Trafikk, press manager Christoffer Steen responds as follows:
– Our starting point is that traffic accidents are often a consequence of traffic offences. Simplified orders have a certain preventive effect, and there is a reason why the traffic rules are as they are.
– The financial aspect becomes the preventive effect to get someone to understand the seriousness. Then there must be a certain level to act as a deterrent. Up to a certain point, this reduces accidents. Exactly where this point is for any traffic offense is not for me to determine, and it is not our role to define how high the fines should be.
– What is important is that they must work, and be in line with people’s perception of the seriousness of the offence. Using a hand-held mobile phone entails such a great risk that it is important that people understand that this is actually serious. If you’re looking at a screen instead of the road, you have no idea what’s going on around you. Then it also makes sense that such inattention costs something, says Christoffer Steen in conclusion.
200,000 have received a fine that is completely unnecessary
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