Poland is a safe and wonderful country.
But has its rules and regulations – and they may not be ones you’re used to. Follow this quick guide to stay on the right side of the law, and to avoid some common problems and misunderstandings.
- Stamp your bus/tram ticket – simply buying a ticket is not enough, you have to validate it. Plainclothes ticket inspectors can pop up at any time and they don’t care that this isn’t the way it’s done in your side of the world. Fine can be up to 200 PLN depending on the city.
- It is not allowed to consume alcohol in public places – ANY kind of alcohol, including beers and wines in the green areas during the picnic. It’s simply prohibited. Polish police take a strict approach to public drunkenness and fine may be imposed. If you are found to be drunk in a public place you may be taken to a drying-out clinic and pay for it (it’s not cheap nor comfortable)
- Smoking in public places is prohibited – in restaurants, pubs, on trains, in theatres, colleges, etc. you may only smoke in such designated areas. Smoking is strictly prohibited in places marked with special signs (a cigarette crossed with a red line).
- Jay-walking is an offence. – Only crossroads at marked pedestrian crossings, or face up to 500zł fine. Wandering across the street anywhere you like, even when there is no traffic in sight, is illegal.
- Drinking & driving – The drink-drive limit in Poland is 20 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Driving a car under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited and is punishable by up to 2 years in prison. Likewise cycling on public roads under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in prosecution and a huge fine.
- THC / weed – all products that include THC are strictly prohibited and illegal in Poland. Both owning and using.
- Parties at home – well, we do have a law that prohibits loud parties in the flat between 22 pm-6 am. It’s called the right to the night silence so your neighbours may call for the Police when you will throw loud parties often.
See you in Poland!
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