Are you traveling without a ticket? The police may knock on your house
Riding public transport without a valid ticket may have serious consequences. Many people downplay this, which is a serious mistake.
Although the vast majority of public transport passengers buy tickets and travel legally, some people regularly stowaway. They want to save money this way and do not buy single or monthly tickets. They assume that the chance of getting a mandate is actually small. After all, inspectors do not drive all trams or buses. And even if you get a ticket every now and then, you can still save by not buying tickets every day or every month. This is very wrong thinking. The consequences for free riders can be serious.
Driving without a ticket. What consequences?
First, we will receive a fine from the inspectors. Depending on the city, it may be between PLN 200 and PLN 500. If we pay the fee within seven days, the amount is often significantly reduced, even by half.
However, if we do not pay the additional fee for not having a ticket, interest will be charged first. Then, the case may also be referred to debt collection proceedings and an appropriate law firm will be interested in us and will try to enforce the repayment of the debt. The matter will become even more complicated if we are caught driving without a ticket at least three times during the year.
Pursuant to Art. 121 § 1 of the Code of Petty Offenses, each “who, despite failing to pay the financial penalty specified in the tariff twice imposed on him, “for the third time in a year without the intention to pay the amount due, he obtains a railway or other means of transport ticket, shall be subject to the penalty of arrest, restriction of liberty or a fine.”.
The consequences will first be that the police will become interested in the case. First of all, the officers will look for us by knocking on the door at our registered address or at the door of our family members. In this way, the officers will want to determine our whereabouts.
If we do not express our willingness to repay the debt or do not reach an agreement with the carrier whose vehicles we used as free riders, in extreme cases the court may impose a penalty of arrest or a high fine, up to PLN 5,000. zloty.
