Ministry officials want to toughen penalties for drunk drivers. As reported by polskatimes.pl:

For now, the penalties for driving while intoxicated remain unchanged. Drivers face up to 2 years in prison, a payment to the Fund for Victims and Post-Penitentiary Assistance of at least PLN 5,000, a fine dependent on the offender’s income (from 10 to 540 daily rates), and a driving ban of at least 3 years.

What changes does the Ministry of Justice want to introduce?

  • A drunk driver with a blood alcohol level of at least 1.5 per mille will lose their car, even if they do not cause an accident. (The police will temporarily seize the car, then the prosecutor will order the securing of the property, and the court will order its forfeiture.)
  • The court may refrain from ordering the forfeiture of the property if the driver did not cause an accident and if “special circumstances” arise.
  • However, such a repeat offender will lose their car if they are detained again for driving while drunk. (In that case, “just” half a per mille will be enough.)
  • Cars will also be confiscated from those responsible for accidents (the threshold is above 0.5 per mille).
  • If a drunk driver is driving someone else’s car, the court will order the forfeiture of an amount equal to the vehicle’s value.

Harsher prison sentences

If the new regulations come into force, someone who causes an accident may be sent to prison:

  • for at least 3 years – if the injured person suffers serious bodily harm;
  • for at least 5 years – if it was a fatal accident.

The maximum sentence for such an offense: 16 years. (Currently: 12.)

Serious penalties would also be introduced for stealing license plates. It would become a criminal offense punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

For now, this is a draft bill from the Ministry of Justice. It still has to be approved by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, the Senate and the president.

More details are available at polskatimes.pl.

Let us recall that a new schedule of penalties for road offenses has been in force since January 1, 2022.

What fines have been in force since January 1?

  • failing to yield to a pedestrian when required – PLN 1,500;
  • failing to stop a vehicle to allow a person with a disability using a special sign, or a person with visibly limited mobility, to cross the road – PLN 1,500;
  • overtaking a vehicle at a pedestrian crossing where traffic is not controlled, or immediately before such a crossing – PLN 1,500;
  • passing a vehicle traveling in the same direction that has stopped to yield to a pedestrian – PLN 1,500;
  • violating the ban on driving along a sidewalk or pedestrian crossing – PLN 1,500;
  • driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol – PLN 2,500;
  • driving a vehicle other than a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol – PLN 1,000;
  • using a phone while driving in a way that requires the driver to hold the handset or microphone in their hand – PLN 500;
  • blocking or obstructing traffic – PLN 500;
  • blocking or obstructing traffic by a person driving a motor vehicle – PLN 500;
  • exceeding the permitted speed by more than 30 km/h in a motor vehicle – PLN 800;
  • exceeding the permitted speed by more than 70 km/h in a motor vehicle – PLN 2,500;
  • overtaking with a motor vehicle despite a prohibition – PLN 1,000;
  • driving a motor vehicle without the required authorization – PLN 1,500;
  • driving a vehicle other than a motor vehicle without the required authorization – PLN 1,500;
  • entering a railway crossing when there is no room to continue driving on the other side – PLN 2,000;
  • going around lowered barriers or half-barriers at a railway crossing, entering the crossing while the barriers or half-barriers are being lowered or have not finished rising, and entering or driving onto a railway crossing beyond a signal or other device displaying a red, flashing red or two alternating flashing red signals – PLN 2,000.

(Illustrative photo).