Speed camera snaps, car owner pays: draft law UD263 sets fees of up to 7,500 zloty

Under draft law UD263, a speed camera notice would go to the owner or user of the car listed in the central vehicle register. Naming the driver would not be enough: the driver must sign a statement within 30 days accepting or refusing the ticket. Otherwise the owner pays an administrative fee.

How much

Fees would range from PLN 1,500 for speeding by up to 30 km/h to PLN 7,500 for more than 71 km/h. Running a red light would cost PLN 3,000 and an offence at a level crossing PLN 6,000. Paying quickly would cut the amount by 20%. Cameras would trigger at 5 km/h over the limit (6 km/h on motorways and expressways), instead of about 11 km/h today. The owner would not pay if the car had been sold, stolen or used in an emergency.

Rental firms protest

Car rental companies say each receives about 900 speed camera inquiries on average, with tickets worth PLN 2.7–3 million. "The state is shifting the duty of enforcing penalties onto businesses. For rent-a-car firms this could be fatal," says Paweł Piórkowski of the rental and leasing association. The draft is in consultation.