On January 1, 2022, major changes were introduced to Poland's traffic fine system. This marked the first increase in financial penalties for traffic offences since 1997. What are the fine rates in 2024? Which violations can result in the most penalty points? Who is most affected by the new regulations? Read on to find out.
Are the recent increases in fines significant? The changes to the penalty tariffs have been described in the media as quite substantial, but it's worth noting that, in practice, they don't stand out much compared to other European countries.
For drivers who generally follow the rules and only receive fines occasionally, these changes shouldn't be a major issue. However, professional drivers should remain particularly vigilant due to the nature of their work.
We recommend exercising caution when it comes to road safety, partly due to new regulations and stricter consequences for drivers. From 2022, it's now much easier to lose your driver's licence for exceeding the 24-point limit. This is because the tariff of points that can be received for individual offences has changed.
After the new regulations were introduced, enforcement agencies faced a problem. The rules were unclear about the 15-point limit during a single inspection, leading to the practice of adding up points for multiple violations.
According to the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration from September 14, 2023, concerning the register of drivers who violate traffic laws, if a driver commits two or more offences in a single act, all violations are recorded, with each assigned the corresponding number of points. The regulation also outlines situations where this principle does not apply.
Additionally, the regulations now list traffic violations that can result in 15 points, which were not judged so harshly before 2022. These are the most serious violations of regulations, posing the highest risk of major road incidents.
Here are some of the offences punishable by 15 penalty points:
More detailed information can be found in the Decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration on records of vehicle drivers violating traffic regulations.
In some situations just two traffic offences are enough for a driver to say goodbye to their licence. A total of 25 penalty points can be accumulated, for example, by committing any of the above-mentioned offences and another offence, tariffed at 10 points. This can be, for example:
As of September 17, 2023, penalty points are removed after one year from the date of payment of the fine. Drivers who evade paying their fines will therefore extend the validity of the points they have collected.
Remember that the consequences of traffic offences apply to all categories of driver's licence. This means that a professional driver who commits serious offences while driving a private passenger car may lose the ability to do his job due to accumulated penalty points.
We urge you to be careful!
In 2022, the legislature introduced a new tariff of fines, which tightens penalties for drivers who commit the most serious violations and repeat the same offences multiple times. The new structure of fines is aimed at treating the most dangerous behaviour on the road more harshly and making drivers more accountable for their actions.
The changes introduced are intended to act as a deterrent. If a driver who has been penalised for a specific offence commits the same offence again within two years of the previous conviction, they will face a fine of no less than twice the minimum legal penalty.
In practice, this means the driver could receive a fine that is double the amount of the penalty imposed for the first offence.
The current system of sanctioning traffic offences consistently raises the level of applicable fines. These changes target both drivers who commit the most serious offences and those who repeatedly break the rules without learning from previous offences.
Examining the current regulations, it’s clear that the sanctions focus primarily on violations that pose the greatest risks to the health and safety of road users. The new fine and penalty point schedules introduced by lawmakers also place emphasis on protecting pedestrians.
One change is the introduction of a fine ranging between €70 and €115 for failing to observe the required minimum distance between the vehicle being driven and the car in front in the same lane.
The current fine schedule also provides for a fine of €70 to €115 if a driver fails to maintain the required distance behind a vehicle in a tunnel longer than 500 metres. Additionally, the penalties for using a phone while driving (holding a handset or microphone in your hand) have also been increased. The current penalty is €115 and 12 penalty points.
In certain cases, authorities may use the suspension of driving privileges as a penalty for violating traffic rules.
This primarily applies to individuals who have driven a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants. Such consequences also extend to drivers who, in an attempt to evade inspection, ignored a signal to pull over issued by a law enforcement officer.
A driver who, while involved in a traffic accident, failed to provide immediate assistance to the injured, may lose his licence.
It is worth mentioning that for some offences the principle of mandatory detention does not apply, and the decision is up to the control authorities. For the following offences may a driver lose their driving privileges:
1. On a public road, in a residential zone or traffic zone, while driving a motor vehicle:
2. Fails to obey a traffic sign, signal, or the directions of a person authorised to direct or control traffic.
Loss of driving privileges can also occur in several other situations. First, it can happen as a result of exceeding the maximum allowable number of penalty points or losing the required qualifications.
Driving privileges may also be revoked if a driver exceeds the 24-point limit for traffic violations within a 5-year period from the date of being ordered to attend a retraining course.
Similarly, committing three traffic violations or one serious offence against road safety during the probationary period will have the same consequence.
A person who has committed traffic offences may, at their own expense and no more than once every 6 months, participate in a special training that reduces the total number of penalty points they have. An exception to this rule applies to the least experienced drivers who have had their driver's licence for less than a year – in their case, this option is not available.
Information about received penalty points can be accessed online via the Central Register of Vehicles and Drivers. After completing the course, the number of penalty points is reduced by 6. The detailed regulations for attending this course are outlined in the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure on road safety re-education.
In other cases, penalty points are removed one year after the fine is paid.
Driving through a red light results in a fine of €115. In addition to the financial penalty, drivers can also incur up to 15 penalty points for this offence.
When traffic violations are detected by speed cameras, red light cameras, drones, or section speed measurements, the legal consequences are the same as during a road traffic stop. The personal data of the driver is first confirmed after identifying the vehicle owner.
The rules for road users apply to all drivers, regardless of the type of vehicle. However, specific regulations apply to heavy transport. This includes restrictions on overtaking other vehicles and penalties for violations of these rules, as per the Regulation of the Prime Minister from June 30th, 2023.
Implementing fleet management solutions can help companies monitor driver behaviour and ensure compliance with these regulations, reducing the risk of penalties.
For instance, truck drivers (category N2 or N3 vehicles) who violate the overtaking ban on a motorway or expressway with only two lanes in their direction can be fined €230, and in case of repeat offences, the fine increases to €460.
Drivers of category N2, N3 vehicles, or vehicle combinations over 7 metres in length, who fail to stick to the two rightmost lanes on motorways or expressways with three or more lanes, may face a fine of €115.
For professional drivers, penalties may also relate to road transport regulations, such as those outlined in the EU Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
In urban areas, the fines for various offences include:
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h in urban areas may lead to both a fine and the confiscation of the driver’s licence.
Drivers responsible for causing collisions face severe penalties. If the incident poses a serious threat to road safety, the case may be referred to court, where penalties can reach up to €6,900.
If a driver causes bodily harm or worsens the health of an injured party, they may be fined €345. In the case of repeat offences, this penalty doubles to €690.
A driver travelling the wrong way on a motorway or expressway may be fined €460. Failure to signal or improperly signal a stopped vehicle due to damage or accident on a highway or expressway, on the other hand, is punishable by a fine of €70.
The penalty system imposes the same fine for failing to remove a broken-down vehicle from the road as for not warning other road users. Entering a motorway or expressway with a vehicle not intended for these roads can result in a fine of €58.
