Snowless car, sledding - for which you can get a fine in winter

It has been snowing almost all over Poland for several days. So, let's check what the police can get fined for in winter conditions.

There are many offenses for which you can only get a fine during snowfall or frost.

The car is not a snowman

In accordance with Art. 66 Law rules many movements a vehicle participating in road traffic must be equipped and maintained in such a way that its use does not endanger the safety of its passengers or other road users and does not endanger anyone.

“The point is, in particular, that the driver must have an appropriate field of vision,” explains Marek Florianowicz from the traffic department of the voivodeship police department in Opole. – At a minimum, the front door windows, windshield and mirrors must be free of snow, ice and other dirt. Of course, it is better to have all of them, this will only increase our security.

Headlights and taillights must not be dirty and caked with snow, number platesor turn signals. Snow must not remain on the vehicle roof, front hood or trunk lid. This may pose a danger to other drivers. It can fall on the windshield of the car behind us, or slide onto our windshield when braking.

“Of course, if we drive when it snows, which sticks to the lanterns and boards, not a single policeman will issue a fine, but if there is no rain and the car looks like a snowman, then there will be a fine,” Marek Florianovich adds. .

See also: Ten things to check in your car before winter

Fines for these offenses range from PLN 20 to PLN 500. In addition, you may receive 3 penalty points for illegible license plates.

Do not park with the engine running

Also, the driver may receive a fine for a long stop with the engine running. In particular, it is forbidden to stop for more than one minute in settlements that do not comply with traffic rules.

“If at this time we clear the car of snow, it's okay, there will be no fine for this,” says Marek Florianovich.

However, when during a longer parking we constantly warm up the engine or leave the car running and move off, then in accordance with Art. 60 road code the policeman can punish us for it. The rules say that the driver cannot move away from the vehicle with the engine running. This should not create any inconvenience associated with excessive carbon dioxide emissions or noise.

The rules also prohibit leaving a car with a running engine within populated areas. However, the policemen note that everything depends on the situation, because if frosts prevail, the car of the father and child, and the mother jumped out to the post office for a minute, or something to do with the office, then you can turn a blind eye to this.

Sledding ticket

After last year's tragic accidents caused by drivers towing sleds behind cars or tractors, the rules have been tightened. According to the latest tariff, the driver can receive 5 demerit points and a fine of PLN 500 for organizing sleigh rides.

But this applies only to public roads and transport zones. No one will do anything to us for organizing sledding on a dirt road. At least so far no one has been hurt.

“But I advise you to think twice before attaching the sled to the car,” warns Marek Florianovich from Opole traffic. - Such fun can end tragically.

Slavomir Dragula