[REVISION HISTORY]

Polish police traffic-violation crackdown

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-02 07:37 UTC → 2026-09-10 18:25 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In August 2026, the effort expanded into a nationwide “Speed” operation (3–9 August) coordinated by the European ROADPOL network, deploying additional patrols, laser speed-measuring devices, and police drones. Fines for excessive speed can reach 5,000 zł and carry up to 15 penalty points, with licence suspensions of three months for violations over 50 km/h; repeat offenders face doubled fines (“super-mandates”). To combat recidivism, the Ministry of Justice is drafting amendments to the Polish Criminal Code and the Code of Offences. The proposal seeks to make custodial sentences compulsory for drivers who repeatedly breach court-ordered driving bans while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This amendment would remove judicial discretion to issue suspended sentences, conditional dismissals, or convert imprisonment into fines for these specific recidivists. Following the acceptance of a draft amendment by the Council of Ministers in September 2026, the proposal has been sent to the Sejm. This legislative package targets ten different road traffic laws to address the issue of drivers ignoring court-ordered bans, a practice affecting over 16,000 drivers annually according to police statistics. Under these proposed rules, offenders could face permanent revocation of their driving licenses, seizure of their vehicles, and a mandatory financial penalty of at least 10,000 PLN. Experts have noted concerns regarding the scope of these penalties, particularly as certain technical violations—such as driving in contact lenses when a license mandates corrective glasses—are legally treated as driving without valid qualifications. Driven by new European Union directives, Poland is also preparing to overhaul driving regulations and phase out indefinite licenses. Between 2028 and 2033, approximately 15 million drivers holding documents issued before January 19, 2013, will be required to exchange old documents for new ones with fixed expiration dates: Category B licenses will be valid for up to 15 years, while categories C and D will be valid for 5 years. Regulatory changes also introduce a mandatory probationary period for new drivers, typically lasting two years, or three years for 17-year-olds. During this time, a zero alcohol limit (0.0 ‰) is enforced. Drivers exceeding 12 penalty points will be required to undergo practical training at a cost of 500 PLN. Additionally, while member states may choose to shorten license validity for drivers over 65 to facilitate more frequent medical examinations, the European Parliament has reached a compromise to avoid age-based discrimination. dates.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.