A penal order is a decision made by the prosecutor

A penal order is issued by virtue of a fine order or summary penal order .

Payment of a penal order

Pay the unit fines and possible fine increase, forfeiture and victim surcharge ordered in the penal order by the due date. Use the reference number indicated in the penal order.

If you have not paid the penal order and other penalties included with it by the due date, the Legal Register Centre (LRC) will send you a reminder for payment.

Pay the demand by the due date, or the matter will be moved to enforcement authority. The matter will then be managed by the enforcement authorities, and you will no longer be able to apply for payment time from the LRC. So be prompt!

How can I appeal a penal order?

You can appeal against a penal order. Submit a written appeal within 60 days of the date of giving consent (read more undersummary penal order ) or within 30 days of the date of the penal order. Submit the appeal to the district court of the place of the offence, indicated in the penal order.

An appeal does not suspend enforcement unless the court orders it to be suspended. If enforcement has not been suspended, pay the penal order by the due date.

You can pay the penal order in any event. If the penal order is amended or lifted due to your appeal, the LRC will refund the overpaid amount to the payer with the possible interest accumulated on it.

Can I get more payment time?

You can apply for more time for paying the penal order when the matter is listed in the electronic service or the LRC has sent you a reminder for payment. Payment time will only be granted for a justified reason.

Read more about applying for and granting payment time.

Further information:

Act on the Imposition of Fines and Fixed Petty Fines (754/2010) (in Finnish)