With the beginning of the vacation season, thousands of Poles go on a journey, seeking remainder over lakes, mountains and forest fields. In pursuit of an perfect place for a picnic or a desire to approach as close to the beach as possible, many drivers decide to make a seemingly harmless maneuver – exit from the public road and drive a car onto a forest path. So far, specified behaviour has frequently been an amphibian or a symbolic mandate. However, these times pass forever. In line with the fresh guidelines and the strengthened approach of services that enter into force 1 July, the popular vacation error may end with a mandate of even PLN 1500. It's not a mistake. Updated cabikator and the fresh zero-tolerance policy aims to reduce dangerous and harmful behaviour.
Why so advanced a ticket? It's not one, it's two.
The amount of a mandate that can knock off your feet shall not be taken from 1 recipe. It is simply a consequence of the accumulation of 2 different offences, which frequently go together, and which police and Forest defender will now enforce with all severity.
Offence No. 1: Illegal entry into the forest (up to PLN 500)
The legal basis is here Article 29 Forest Act, which is clear: motor vehicle, squad and moped traffic in the forest is allowed only by public roads, and forest roads only if they are marked with traffic signs. For breaking this ban, a mandate of up to PLN 500. It's a punishment that the forest service could have imposed for a long time.
Infringement No 2: origin of a safety hazard (up to PLN 1500 and more)
And that's where we come to the bottom of a new, tightened-up policy. Going into the forest alone is 1 thing, but driving on a narrow, unsuited way poses a real threat to others – pedestrians, cyclists, joggers or families with children. specified behaviour falls under Article 86 Code of Offence, which is causing road safety hazards.
If an officer considers that your maneuver (e.g. reversing, turning back, violent inhibition on a forest duke) has created a dangerous situation, he may impose a mandate of up minimum PLN 1000, and the cab driver for this offense goes back to up to PLN 5000. In practice, for the standard risk, the amount PLN 1500 becomes a fresh norm. From 1 July The services have guidelines to combine these 2 offences, which in full could give an astronomical amount.
"I'll just go to the water" – why is this mistake so dangerous?
Many drivers seem to be getting out of the way for a while, doing nothing wrong. It's a mistake in reasoning that has serious consequences not only financial consequences.
- Human hazard: Forest paths are a relaxation zone. No 1 expects a car to leave the trees. The hazard of hitting a child, a cyclist, or scaring a horse is huge.
- Nature destruction: The tires of the car are destroying the car. forest litterwhich is home to millions of microorganisms and is simply a key component of the ecosystem. Young trees and forest fleece are destroyed.
- Fire risk: The heated catalyst of a car parked on dry grass or moss is 1 of the most common causes of forest fires during the summer. Just 1 spark.
The services stress that the strengthening of penalties is intended to make drivers aware that their convenience cannot exceed public safety and nature protection.
Holiday 2025 action – what are the service's attitude?
Summer months are time for increased patrols. Forest defender and Police announce joint, coordinated actions, especially in areas popular with tourists – in the vicinity of lakes, national and scenery parks and recreational areas.
Modern technologies will be utilized to combat illegal entry into the forest. More and more inflows are investing in drones to monitor hard areas available and discreet phototraps, which automatically registry the registration numbers of vehicles breaking the ban. This means that we can receive a ticket even if we do not encounter any patrol on our way.
How to avoid a ticket and enjoy nature?
The rules are simple and require only a small discipline and planning.
- Use the designated forest parks. They are usually well marked and located in specified a way that the access to attractive places is as short as possible.
- Pay attention to the marking. Character B-1 (‘the prohibition of movement in both directions’) erstwhile entering a forest road, it is clear information. Don't ignore her, even if the road seems mobile.
- Don't trust unlimited navigation. Sometimes navigation, in search of the shortest route, can lead you on a road that is not meant for motor traffic. Always verify the way with marking in the field.
- Accept the walk. Remember, the goal of going to nature is to contact her. A fewer hundred-metre walk from the lake parking lot is part of this experience and an excellent chance for activity.
The introduction of specified severe penalties for seemingly trivial mistake may seem besides harsh for some. However, we request to look at this from a broader perspective. This is simply a form of shock therapy that aims to change profoundly rooted bad habits. Over the years, there was a silent approval to treat forests as an extension of the public road. The consequences of this reasoning – both in terms of safety and ecology – are becoming more serious.
Mandate of PLN 1500 It's expected to work on the imagination and force reflection. It is expected to be a clear signal that the forest is no one's parking lot, but a home for animals and a place of remainder for people who are governed by their laws. From 1 July ignorance of these rights will cost much more than it has so far. This is simply a price any will gotta pay for a lesson in respect for law and nature.
Read more:
A fine-tender from 1 July. For this mistake on vacation you will pay 1500 PLN.
