Maria Wójcicka

A blood alcohol concentration of 1 per mille is a level that many drivers think of as far beyond what they might reach – yet it is achievable after a few drinks in the evening. At this reading, the conduct is a criminal offence, not a misdemeanour, and carries a serious set of legal consequences.…

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A driving licence seizure in connection with suspected drug driving follows a strictly defined procedure. Knowing that procedure – and in particular the critical 30-day deadline – can determine whether the driver quickly recovers their entitlements or faces a prolonged period without a licence. Misdemeanour or Criminal Offence – What the Distinction Means Polish law…

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Court judgments in drink driving cases are publicly available and provide the best insight into how the law operates in practice rather than in theory. The judgment of the District Court in Wągrowiec of 3 February 2021 (case ref. II K 412/20) offers a precise picture of the consequences of driving at a concentration approaching…

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Many drivers convicted of drink driving focus on the disqualification and the principal penalty, without realising that a further serious financial obligation awaits them: a mandatory financial contribution to the Fund for Assistance to Victims. Its level can come as a surprise – and it is worth understanding how courts set it. What the Financial…

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A driving disqualification is for many drivers the most painful consequence of drink driving – more keenly felt than a fine or even a suspended custodial sentence. It removes the offender from the road for years and directly affects their ability to earn a living and manage daily life. Understanding how a disqualification is imposed,…

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Driving while intoxicated is a criminal offence carrying a custodial sentence of up to three years. Despite this, courts impose a fine in many cases. How is this possible? And what determines a court’s choice of the more lenient penalty? Three Types of Penalty – One Judicial Decision Article 178a § 1 of the Criminal…

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A fixed penalty notice is not a judgment. It is a proposal to close the matter through a simplified procedure – and every driver has the right to turn it down. Refusing a notice sends the case to court, where you can present your own version of events and your evidence. Before making that decision,…

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Every per mille matters – not just as a number, but as the line between a misdemeanour and a criminal offence, between a fine and a conviction, between a short and a lengthy driving disqualification. The law provides for different sanctions depending on the alcohol level, the circumstances of the incident and the driver’s history.…

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“I forgot my documents,” “it’s only a short distance,” “my licence is somewhere in a drawer” – behind each of these phrases lies a different legal situation and different consequences. Driving without a licence is not a single offence but several distinct categories, each carrying its own liability. It is worth knowing how to tell…

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A breathalyser result is one of the key pieces of evidence in drink driving cases. But does a breathalyser always give a correct reading? Every measuring instrument has a tolerance for error, and every test must be carried out in accordance with a specific procedure – and failures in either respect can form an effective…

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