Poland proposes stricter penalties for repeat driving offenders

The Polish government is proposing stricter regulations to combat serious road offenses and recidivism. A key component of the plan involves mandatory prison sentences for drivers who operate vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs while already serving a court-ordered driving ban.

Under the proposed changes, courts would lose the discretion to issue only fines or community service in these specific cases of recidivism. The government aims to address the issue of drivers who ignore previous convictions and judicial bans. Additionally, the regulations seek to limit the possibility of suspending prison sentences for these offenders.

Existing laws already outline various grounds for losing driving privileges, including exceeding penalty point limits—24 points for experienced drivers and 20 points for those with less than 12 months of experience—and speeding by more than 50 km/h. Other triggers for license revocation include causing accidents, creating serious traffic hazards, and driving under the influence.