The Polish Sejm has approved new sanctions for traffic violations that will primarily affect drivers of goods vehicles. The key changes concern the temporary revocation of driving licenses.
Main offenses leading to a 3-month license suspension:
· Transporting excess passengers
· Speeding by more than 50 km/h in built-up areas
· Tachograph infringements:
· Driving without a driver card
· Using another person's driver card
· Tampering with the tachograph ("magnet", "switch-off device")
Significant tightening of penalties:
· A new offense has been added: speeding by more than 50 km/h on non-urban roads.
· Driving a vehicle while the license is revoked extends the revocation period to 6 months.
· Re-offending during the period of revocation can lead to:
· Complete license revocation for up to 5 years
· Criminal liability
· Imprisonment for up to 2 years
· A ban on driving vehicles for up to 15 years
Important point: The violation transitions from an administrative to a criminal category.
The new rules await approval by the Senate and the President and are expected to come into force in the coming months. Drivers involved in international transport should pay particular attention to complying with tachograph regulations and speed limits on Polish territory.