Poland plans to expand municipal guard powers and review fines

The Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) is preparing legislative changes to expand the competencies of municipal and commune guards. If passed, the government plans to adopt the project in the fourth quarter of 2026.

New powers would allow guards to intervene in several traffic-related offenses, including driving against the direction of traffic, riding along pedestrian paths, or crossing pedestrian crossings illegally. Additionally, guards would be able to take action against individuals polluting or littering roads. The proposal also seeks to expand the ability of guards to identify the actual driver of a vehicle in various circumstances. To improve documentation, guards would receive a legal basis to record both video and audio during interventions.

Separately, the Ministry is analyzing whether to increase the amounts of specific fines and penalties. While there is no plan for an automatic indexation of all rates, the Ministry is evaluating changes for specific offenses based on their social harm and public safety impact. This follows inquiries regarding whether current fine levels have lost their deterrent effect due to inflation and rising living costs.