Rules and regulations

Zobacz

Rules and Regulations

The Law

Poland is a country that is friendly towards outsiders. Unfortunately, the "souvenir" that some visitors take home with them from our country has, on occasion, been a penalty fine. To avoid this, just make sure you are aware of a few rules and regulations which apply to everyone, regardless where they come from.

Public Transport Tickets

Where Can I Buy a Ticket?

Passengers wishing to travel on public transport must have an appropriate ticket at all times. Tickets can be bought at almost any news kiosk. Visitors should remember that in Poland the same tickets are valid on different kinds of transport as there are no separate tickets for buses, trams or the metro.

In some larger cities tickets can also be bought from the driver, but at a higher fare, or from special machines located inside the vehicle or in metro stations.

A large fine can be imposed by inspectors of the municipal transport company (MPK) for travelling on public transport without a valid ticket or a document proving entitlement to a reduced fare. They would identify themselves with an ID card which they are obliged to show before inspecting anyone's ticket. These inspectors do not wear a uniform.

What Types of Tickets Are There?

In Poland, the types of ticket available in a particular city depend on the municipal transport company. This means that some cities have tickets which are valid for a specific period of time, while others do not.

This type of ticket, which can be valid for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour, one day, 24 hours etc., and can be used to travel on different modes of transport, like buses and trams, but within the allotted time period. When this ticket is stamped in the validating machine at the start of the journey, the time is printed on the ticket. This type of ticket should only be stamped once.

In certain other cities single-journey tickets are also available and both types are used.

Rail Tickets

The best and cheapest place to buy rail tickets is at the station. Additional price is charged for booking specific seats on Express, Inter-City (IC) and Euro-City (EC) trains. The information desk at any railway station will have information about timetables, prices and any special offers. If you are running too late to buy a ticket at the station, you will still be allowed to board the train but you will then be required to buy a ticket from the guard for which there will be a surcharge.

Rules and Prohibitions

In Poland it is not permitted to consume alcohol in public areas such as parks, at bus or tram stops, in the street or on public transport. Fines are imposed for breaches of this rule.

Drink-driving is strictly forbidden in Poland. Driving with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.5 mg per litre is a serious offence and punishable with up to two years imprisonment. Drivers should also remember to observe Polish road traffic regulations, which in most cases follow European standards, although there are some exceptions. On-the-spot fines can be imposed for traffic offences, illegal parking or for the drinking alcohol in prohibited places. The power to impose such fines in Poland rests with the Police and the Municipal Guard (Straz Miejska).

Information for Drivers

Whilst travelling around Poland by car or motorbike tourists need to be aware of the local regulations for public road users which may sometimes be different than in other EU countries.

Any foreign registered vehicle and used on public roads in Poland must meet technical requirements described in the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

Required Documents

valid vehicle registration document (logbook)
valid driving licence

Additionally, for vehicles registered outside the EU:

Valid vehicle insurance certificate

Required equipment

Every vehicle must be equipped with:

warning triangle
extinguisher
first aid kit

Headlights

All vehicles are required to use headlights at all times (night or day).

Seatbelts

The use of seat belts is compulsory for front and rear seat passengers.

Speed Limits

Speed is limited to 50km/hour in built-up areas or 60km/hour between 11pm and 5am. Entry into a built-up area is marked with a white rectangular sign with the name of the town or a similar sign showing urban skyline in black. The exit point is marked with an identical sign with a red diagonal stripe.

90km/hour is permitted outside built-up areas

100km/hour is allowed on A-class roads with single lane which is marked with a white car on blue background sign

110 km/hour is permitted on A-class Road with two lanes which is marked with a white car on blue background sign

130km/hour is the speed limit on motorways

Traffic Lights

Green, yellow and red lights have the same meaning as in any other country. However, it is permitted to turn right when a red light is showing provided a separate green arrow light is on. In such cases, drivers must also always yield to pedestrians.

Parking

When leaving your vehicle in a marked, controlled parking zone, make sure that you have purchased and displayed a valid parking ticket on vehicle's dashboard.

Accident Procedure

In the event of being involved in a road traffic accident, the driver should call the police at the earliest convenience and wait for their arrival. If people have been injured, an ambulance or doctor should also be called. According to the Polish law, any driver involved in an accident should provide first aid to accident victims and remain at the scene of the accident.

Customs and Duty

When travelling between Poland and the UK or Ireland, tourists should take note of customs procedures and regulations. This will spare them the disappointment or embarrassment when some of the items bought during their stay in Poland turn out to be subject to customs restrictions. On arrival at an airport in Poland, take the blue EU channel to proceed more quickly through customs. Visitors should also use the special EU passport control desks for faster processing.

Travellers that are 17 years of age or over may legally bring goods for personal use and consumption into Poland, which are free of customs duty. With regard to alcohol and tobacco the duty-free quantities may not exceed the following:

800 cigarettes, 200 cigars, 400 cigarillos (up to 3kg) or tobacco (1kg)
110 litres of beer, 90 litres of wine, 10 litres of spirits and 20 litres of fortified wine

However, because there are restrictions governing the import of tobacco to the UK from certain EU countries, which include Poland, travellers should always consult the HM Revenue & Customs website before attempting to bring back any of these goods. Generally, allowances restrict bringing more than 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits per one adult person. For more current information, please consult the HMRC website on (EU enlargement - tobacco restrictions for the New Member States).

Visitors should also be aware of the current control regulations in Poland before travelling with funds in excess of 10,000 Euros or the Sterling equivalent of approximately £9000.

Import Restrictions

Unless they have obtained a special permit, visitors must not attempt to bring with them such banned goods like those listed below:

Unlicensed drugs such as heroin, morphine, cocaine or cannabis
Offensive weapons such as firearms, flick knives, knuckledusters or swords
Indecent and obscene materials featuring children as well as pornographic materials which are considered also illegal in other EU countries.
Counterfeit and pirated goods or products that infringe patents such as watches, fashion clothing or compact discs

Protection of National Heritage

To export an object of historic value, a work of art or an object of Poland's industrial heritage from Poland to any foreign country, both within and outside the European Union, an appropriate permit should be obtained that is issued by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. Antique shops or other legitimate sellers offering such items for sale should also be able to offer assistance in obtaining the required permit.

Export permits are not required in the case of:

Objects which are not entered in the Inventory of National Heritage and which are not more than 55 years old
Objects of industrial heritage, which have been entered in the Inventory of National Heritage and which are not more than 25 years old
Works of art that have been created by still living artists
Literary items dated after 31st December 1948
Other objects of historical value which are not entered in the Inventory of National Heritage

A certificate stating that any of the objects itemised above does not require export permit should also be obtained. These would be issued by the local Curator of National Heritage Monuments. The vendor offering such objects for sale should be able to assist in obtaining the required certificate.

Avian Flu

Because of the danger of Avian Flu, Poland, like other EU countries, does not allow the importation of animal products whose country of origin is outside of the EU. This ban does not apply to infant products on the condition that such products do not require refrigeration prior to consumption and the packaging is intact. Meat and milk can only be imported under a special permit.

Visa information

UK and Irish visitors do not require a visa for Poland. Even though travellers do not require a visa to enter Poland and probably will not be stopped at the border for a passport check, a valid passport or another identity document, accepted in all EU countries, confirming your UK or Irish nationality should be carried at all times.

There is no longer the requirement that there must be a 6 months validity left on the passport or ID document at the time of entry but it must remain valid for the full duration of the stay in Poland.

For information about the EU Residency Registration Certificate and other entry regulations currently in force in Poland, please contact Polish Embassy in London at http://www.london.polemb.net/index.php?document=18 or the Polish Consulate General in London at http://www.londynkg.polemb.net/index.php?document=45

Alcohol and Tobacco

Poland has no specific laws regulating drinking and smoking. There are, however, certain restrictions as to the minimum age and the venues where people are permitted to drink and smoke tobacco. It is worth remembering that being under the influence of alcohol is not a mitigating factor if an offence has been committed. Smoking tobacco is slowly going out of fashion in Poland and now it is not permitted to smoke in public buildings.

Drinking in Public Areas

In Poland, it is prohibited to consume alcohol in public areas with the exception of properly licensed and designated locations such as bars, restaurants or open air café gardens.

Underage Drinking

It is strictly prohibited to sell or offer alcohol to young people under the age of 18 years. Likewise, underage drinking is not permitted in licensed bars and restaurants.

Drinking & Driving

In Poland, the allowable legal limit of blood alcohol content is 20 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. Driving while under the influence of alcohol with a level between 20 mg and 50 mg is an offence and punishable with a fine. Driving, whilst above the 50 mg limit, is considered a serious offence which could lead to criminal conviction and the possible seizure of the vehicle. Offenders also face the possibility of immediate arrest and up to two years imprisonment.

Smoking in Public Areas

In Poland it is illegal to smoke in public buildings and there are also regulations aimed at protecting non-smokers. With an increasing number of Polish people preferring a healthy lifestyle, smoking is becoming no longer generally acceptable. The anti-smoking lobby is gaining popularity not only by promoting a healthy lifestyle for smokers but mainly for the protection of passive smokers. A nationwide campaign has been launched to declare 31st May a "National Non Smoking Day". Because of these concerns, smoking has now become prohibited in many locations but many have, however, designated smoking areas such as restaurants, bars, on trains, in theatres or colleges. Smoking is strictly prohibited in places marked with special signs of a cigarette crossed with a red line.

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Friday 18 February 2011, 14:50

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