Rules of the road in 2014: no major changes in the code, but check and mileage

Increasing fines for lack of civil liability, returning cars with a receipt, mileage records and new cards for the disabled are the most important changes in the regulations that will come into force this year. Politicians are announcing a speed camera revolution in traffic regulations, but it's not certain yet.

The new year does not mean a revolution in the rules of the road, as in previous years, but some changes are taking place.

Third Party Liability Insurance - Increased penalties for not having a valid policy

Up - an average of 5 percent. – fines were introduced for the lack of compulsory third party liability insurance, which must be issued by vehicle owners. They are linked to the minimum wage, which has increased. The fine for a car owner who has not acquired civil liability is double the minimum wage, i.e. PLN 3360. If the insurance is interrupted for a maximum of three days, the owner of the vehicle pays one fifth of the fine, and if it does not exceed two weeks, then half. All owners of vehicles subject to registration must purchase a third party liability insurance policy, regardless of their technical condition and frequency of travel. 

See also: The rules already allow refueling with liquefied gas. Will the gas stop? 

“The rule is simple, if a car or other vehicle is registered in Poland, the owner must insure his liability to third parties,” emphasizes Alexandra Bialy from the Guarantee Insurance Fund. It pays compensation for accidents caused by unknown culprits and drivers without third party liability insurance, and also imposes penalties for lack of policies. 

Lattice cars are back, but not for long - VAT deduction in 2014

From the beginning of the year, entrepreneurs can also deduct all VAT included in the cost of grilled cars and fuel for them. The restrictions on VAT deductibility agreed by the European Union have expired, and new ones have not yet been introduced. First, they must be adopted by Parliament and signed by the President. According to the Ministry of Finance, this should happen no later than March 1, 2014, and perhaps as early as mid-February.

Restrictions on deducting VAT will apply to cars with a maximum permissible weight of less than 3,5 tons or with the number of seats less than nine and used by the entrepreneur also for personal purposes, and not just for doing business. Restrictions should not apply to cars used exclusively for official purposes. After their introduction, entrepreneurs will be able to deduct 50 percent. VAT is included in the cost of the car and the costs of its operation (for example, fuel or repairs). However, the ministry says that the tax included in the cost of fuel will only be deducted after June 30, 2015, unless Parliament changes this provision. Importantly, the European Union has agreed that these restrictions will remain in place until the end of 2016. 

Registration of a mileage at the service station, we are waiting for the CEPiK

From January 1, 2014, during technical inspections, diagnosticians are required to record the mileage in the database of inspection stations and in the certificate of the owner of a car or motorcycle. This is the first step towards introducing changes that will make life easier for used car buyers. From July, data on the origin of a car or motorcycle, its age and configuration can be checked in the Central Register of Vehicles via the Internet. In the years to come, there will also be data such as mileage, information on accidents, crashes, number of owners, and the validity of technical inspections. 

See also: Driving test in 2014: eco-driving mandatory? (VIDEO) 

Money from speed cameras will be used to build roads

Since the beginning of the year, money from speed cameras and video recorders of the traffic police has been going not to the state budget, but to the National Road Fund. It funds the construction and repair of highways, expressways, and national roads.

Disabled parking cards - new rules

The rules for issuing parking cards, which give the right to park in places for the disabled, are also changing. These cards will continue to be issued by mayors and presidents of cities with poviat rights. From the beginning of July, they will be provided to people with a significant or moderate degree of disability, with significantly limited opportunities for independent movement, as well as premises for the care, rehabilitation or education of people with disabilities. The card will also be available to a driver who transports a cardholder with a disability.

The cards will be issued for the duration of the sick leave, but not more than five years. Issued on the basis of current rules are valid until November 30 of the current year. At the end of last year, a fine of up to 2 rubles was introduced. Penalty in złoty for using a card for the disabled by an ineligible person. 

See also: New rules will contribute to the development of cycling infrastructure in cities (VIDEO) 

There are plans for a revolution in speed cameras - automatic punishment of vehicle owners

MEPs from the Parliamentary Infrastructure Commission are also working on rules that would take away the right of city and municipal security guards to use speed cameras. The traffic inspectorate would have used devices for measuring speed, and money for road construction. On the other hand, only police officers will retain the right to use portable speed meters and video recorders in police cars.

On the basis of photos from speed cameras, employees of the traffic control department will no longer impose fines, but administrative penalties. They will have to pay the owners of vehicles if they do not indicate the driver. If they are caught by speed cameras, they will not receive demerit points, but they will have to pay more. Administrative fines, according to the bill of the deputy, should depend on the average salary and be on average twice as high as the current fines for speeding.

Automatic punishment of vehicle owners will be saved by the system of speed cameras. At the moment, many drivers are ignoring letters from the ITD that they were convicted of speeding, and the inspectorate has neither the time nor the people to take such cases to court. However, it is not yet known what form these rules will take and when they will come into force. 

Theoretical driving tests – there will be one database of questions

MEPs from the Infrastructure Committee are also working on changes to driving test theory. At the moment, exam questions are being developed by employees of companies that prepare software for tests - the Institute of Road Transport and the Polish Securities Factory. Thus, there are two databases of questions, and neither of them is organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure. The deputies want to replace it with a single database of questions approved by the minister. But the questions must remain secret. This change is expected to come into effect later this year. 

See also: Most Poles are not against speeding on the roads 

Parliament, at least for the time being, is not considering expanding the driving test to test the economy of a driver candidate in accordance with the principles of eco-driving. 

Slavomir Dragula