We received a message from a reader about cars parked in places not intended for parking, on lawns and where there used to be a lawn—that is, on so-called bare ground.
The reader sent an email to the editorial office drawing attention to cars parked in Bolesławiec in places not designated for parking. As evidence, they also attached photographs of the parked vehicles.
We asked the Municipal Police in Bolesławiec for comment on the matter. We received the following response:
I kindly inform you that municipal police officers intervene whenever an act involving the parking of a vehicle meets the elements of the offense specified in Article 144 § 1 of the Code of Petty Offenses.
Kamila Chalewicz-Pudłowska
Commander of the Municipal Police in Bolesławiec
What does the above-mentioned article of the Code of Petty Offenses say? We quote its wording:
Art. 144. Destruction or damage to vegetation, lawns or green areas.
§ 1.
Anyone who, in areas intended for public use, destroys or damages vegetation, or allows vegetation to be destroyed by animals under their supervision, or, in areas intended for public use, tramples a lawn or green area in places other than those designated for recreational purposes by the appropriate land manager, is subject to a fine of up to PLN 1,000 or a reprimand.
In this matter, we also contacted the Bolesławiec police. We were informed that cases involving cars parked on so-called bare ground and lawns are handled mainly by the municipal police, and potential offenses of this kind should be reported there. Such matters can, of course, also be reported to the police. Officers will then intervene and assess whether an offense has occurred and whether the matter will end with an admonition, a fine or referral to court.
It should be remembered, however, that assessing such cases can be difficult. This results from the fact that it must be proven that the green area was destroyed as a result of a particular vehicle being parked there. If a car is parked on so-called bare ground once and for a short time, it is obvious that the bare ground was not created by that single instance of parking.
Update
We received another email. This time, a female reader sent photographs of cars parked on a green area next to a sports hall. The reader commented on the photographs she sent:
The area around School No. 1 named after John Paul II—these are athletes who cannot walk 100 meters.
