Enimmäissakko

Enimmäissakko is a Finnish term that translates to “maximum fine” and refers to the upper monetary limit that can be imposed for a specific offence under Finnish law. The concept is used in several legislative contexts, including the Finnish Criminal Code, the Administrative Procedure Act, and statutes dealing with traffic violations and tax enforcement.

In most cases the calculation of an enimmäissakko is expressed in multiples of the average monthly net salary. For instance, a common proportion for driving infractions is 120 times the average net salary, whereas more serious administrative offences may allow for a fine of 200 times or more. The law also specifies an absolute statutory maximum that a judge or magistrate may not exceed. Each offence class has its own defined multiplier, and these are periodically reviewed and updated by parliamentary statutes.

The enimmäissakko is applied throughout numerous areas of Finnish law: traffic offences such as speeding and reckless conduct, alcohol‑related penalties, environmental violations, tax evasion, and various civil regulatory infractions. In the Criminal Code, Article 73 provides the calculation method for criminal fines, and similar provisions exist for administrative penalties.

Critics have noted that using a fixed multiplier can disproportionately affect lower‑income defendants, creating concerns about fairness and equitable treatment. Consequently, legislative updates often adjust the multiplier values or redefine the applicable offenses to address perceived inequities. As of 2023, several recent amendments lowered the maximum multiplier for specific financial crimes, reflecting an ongoing effort to balance punitive goals with proportionality.