Drivers, watch out for July! Scheduled increases of tickets by PLN 1000 for speeding

Polish drivers must prepare for a revolution in the ticket tariff. Although fresh mandate rates have not yet been introduced since the beginning of 2025, work on the fresh rules is intensive. According to unofficial information, since the second half of 2025 drivers can anticipate dramatic increases in penalties for traffic offences. The most affected changes will be those who exceed the permitted velocity – mandates may increase even by 1000 PLN.

The current ticket fareer has been in force for respective years, and its rates do not keep up with the expanding number of accidents and the request to increase safety on Polish roads. According to government announcements, the year 2025 is to be the time to fight the scourge of road safety violations. The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration are working on solutions to effectively discourage drivers from breaking regulations.

Current mandate rates - which is now in force

The current ticket fareer, which is in force in 2025, provides for the following penalties for speeding:

Speed exceeding:

• Up to 10 km/h – 50 PLN, 1 punishment point
• 11-15 km/h – 100 PLN, 2 punishment points
• 16-20 km/h – 200 PLN, 3 punishment points
• 21-30 km/h – 300 PLN, 5 punishment points
• 31-40 km/h – 400 PLN, 6 punishment points
• 41-50 km/h – 800 PLN, 8 punishment points
• Above 50 km/h – 1500 PLN, 10 punishment points

In the case of a repeat offence (again committed in 2 years), financial penalties are doubled – e.g. exceeding by more than 50 km/h means a mandate of PLN 3000, and with the most severe cases it may even amount to 5000 PLN.

Planned changes – what the government is planning

Although the fresh tariffmaker has not yet been announced, the proposals for amendments supply for an increase in the amount of mandates, where penalties may be up to PLN 5000. The most likely changes that could enter into force in the second half of 2025:

New planned velocity overrun rates:

• 21-30 km/h – PLN 400 (growth by PLN 100)
• 31-40 km/h – PLN 800 (increase by PLN 400)
• 41-50 km/h – 1800 zł (height by PLN 1000)
• Above 50 km/h – PLN 2500 (increase by PLN 1000)

The most severe change concerns a velocity overrun of 41-50 km/h, where the ticket may increase from the current 800 PLN to as much as 1800 PLN. That means a rise by 1000 PLNwhich represents more than a double increase in the penalty.

Why the government is making specified drastic increases

Road accident statistic in Poland are alarming. In 2024 more than 2100 people died on Polish roads, and more than 23,000 were injured. Overspeed allowed remains 1 of the main causes of fatal accidents.

Ministry of Infrastructure argues that the current mandates are too lowto effectively deter drivers from breaking regulations. For many people, a punishment of PLN 800 for speeding by 45 km/h is not a adequate deterrent.

Key arguments for increases:

• Ineffectiveness of current penalties – statistic show that mandates do not reduce the number of offences
• EU harmonisation – Polish mandates are among the lowest in Europe
• Security – Higher penalties are intended to reduce the number of fatalities
• Preventive effect – drastic increases are intended to change the mentality of drivers

Road accident - Double penalties

If the driver commits the same offense in 2 years, the ticket can be doubled. In practice, this means that a individual who, for the second time in 24 months, exceeds the velocity by 45 km/h, may receive a mandate of up to PLN 3600 (at fresh rates).

Examples of penalties for recycling at fresh rates:

• 31-40 km/h again – 1600 PLN
• 41-50 km/h again – PLN 3600
• Over 50 km/h again – PLN 5000 (maximum mandate)

The recidivism strategy is intended to peculiarly affect repeaters who systematically violate traffic regulations.

Maximum mandates – up to PLN 5000

The most severe change is the increase in the maximum rate of the mandate – from the current PLN 500 to PLN 5000. This amount will cover the most serious offences, specified as:

• Driving at speeds exceeding 70 km/h allowed
• Repeated drastic speeding (recidiation)
• Overtaking on a pedestrian crossing
• Alcoholic driving (in combination with another offences)
• Non-compliance with light signals

Penalty points – fresh rules

Changes to the criminal-point strategy are besides planned with increases in mandates. The fresh law increases the maximum number of punishment points from 10 to 15 for the most serious offences.

New Criminal Point Limits:

• Overshoot by 41-50 km/h – 12 points (now 8)
• Overshoot by more than 50 km/h – 15 points (now 10)
• Overtaking at the crossing – 15 points
• Driving on a red light – 12 points

Collection 24 punishment points within a year will mean automatic failure of driving licence for 3 months, and the driver will gotta pass the theoretical exam again.

When fresh regulations come in

Although there is no fresh ticket fareer today, the legislative work is taking place intensively. According to unofficial information from the Ministry of Infrastructure, fresh regulations can enter into force already in the 3rd 4th of 2025.

Likely schedule:

• April-May 2025 – finalization of the bill
• June 2025 – parliamentary procedure
• July-August 2025 – signing by the president and vacatio legis
• September 2025 – entry into force of fresh rules

If this agenda is retained, the first seats at fresh driver rates may already be awarded September 2025.

How to Prepare for Change

Drivers should be preparing for the upcoming changes:

Practical tips:

• Compliance with velocity limits – even tiny overruns will be very expensive
• Installation of the application informing of photoradiators
• Regular check of punishment points by CEPiK
• Careful riding – especially in places of frequent police control
• Saving for possible fines – higher penalties require greater financial provisions

Driver and organisation reactions

The planned increases in the mandates consequence in utmost reactions. Driver associations They powerfully criticise the proposals, arguing that they are "drivers' plunder" and disproportionate penalties. In turn road safety organisations support changes, pointing to the request for extremist action.

Arguments of the opponents:

• Mandates will not improve security, they will only fill the state budget
• High penalties will hit the poorest drivers
• No investment in road infrastructure
• Inadequacy of penalties to the standard of surviving in Poland

Arguments of supporters:

• Polish roads are among the most dangerous in Europe
• The current mandates do not deter violations
• High penalties effectively reduce the number of offences (example of Scandinavian countries)
• Safety is more crucial than driver wallets

Comparison with another EU countries

Polish mandates, even after planned increases, will proceed to be some of the lowest in the European Union:

Mandates for exceeding 30 km/h:

• Switzerland – up to EUR 3000 (depending on revenue)
• Germany – 260 euro + points
• France – 135 EUR
• Czech Republic – 2500-5000 kroner (100-200 euro)
• Poland (planned) – around 180 euros

Even after the increases, Polish mandates will be price competitive, which may mean that It's not the end of the raise..

What is next – the prospects for development

Experts foretell that the introduction of a fresh tariffmaker is only the beginning of major changes in Polish road law. The plans besides include:

• A strategy of revenue-proportional mandates (as in the Nordic countries)
• Automatic suspension of the driving licence for certain offences
• Vehicle confiscation in the event of a drastic overspeed
• Business point system transport
• Higher penalties for utilizing your telephone while driving

The future ticket counter can reduce the driver's wallet even 10 times more than the 2021 rates.

Planned increases in mandates mean End of the era of inexpensive traffic offences in Poland. Drivers will should be much more careful about compliance, due to the fact that the cost of breaking them will dramatically increase

• The speeding mandates will increase even by 1000 PLN
• The maximum mandate may be 5000 PLN
• Recidivism strategy Double the penalties for repeated offences
• Changes can come into force already in the 3rd 4th of 2025
• This is only the beginning of major road reform

Drivers who do not comply will gotta scope much deeper into their pockets. The era, erstwhile the speeding ticket cost little than fueling the car, will most likely shortly be history.