Drink driving a bike and losing your driving license in Poland

That is what happened to a neighbour of mine this weekend. He was riding his bike - admittedly extremely drunk - zigzag across one of the main arteries in Bielany. The cops did not think it was exactly very funny :). I admit they had a point.. But losing your driving license for that? I mean he was not driving his car....should be given a massive fine, taken his pets away, whatever...

I admit I returned home a few times by bike home short of sobriety...

That was to put a stop to exactly the kind of behavior that you talk about. He's fortunate not to be looking at prison - it's common for poorer members of society to get locked up for that...

few months ago, before the law has changed he could go to prison for that. seriously many prisoners in Poland were sentenced because of this reason.

I think it's absurd. Not exactly sure what the issue is? Fear of them crossing into traffic and causing accidents?

I think it's Western cultures anti-alcohol view having an influence.

The reason was to cut down on the amount of people doing it. What's the issue? You do realize that road users should be treated equally, right?


No, it's a way to cut down on the amount of idiots that ride bikes while drunk.

I nearly hit one such idiot one night who was completely wasted. I still don't know why I didn't get out and throw him into the ditch myself.

You don't see the issue of putting people in jail, massive fines and losing license for riding a bike drunk? The whole point of riding the bike is to avoid getting behind the wheel. People don't ride bikes drunk because they are looking for a workout

So they are trying to increase taxi business?

No issue at all. The law exists for a reason - in that people riding bikes dangerously when drunk is a serious problem on Polish roads. It's not that they use the bike to get home from the centre of the city to their flat a short distance away - it's that they often ride bikes when completely wasted between villages.

Have you ever driven in Poland? If not, then I suggest you do, as you might understand then why the law exists.


They're trying to stop people from causing accidents.

Before the law was introduced, Poland had some very serious issues with alcohol and bike riding. It's cut down on the amount of drunken idiots on bikes, which can only be a good thing.

Isn't the next step outlawing being drunk in public? Wouldn't that solve all the issues. "Which can only be a good thing''

It already is an offense to be drunk in public.

what a funny conclusion lol

Its an EU directive, of course this is implemented dependand on the country(e.g. the seriousness of the "crime", the polices mood and your approach).

Very good decision in my opinion, yesterday he was drink driving a bike, tomorrow he may drink driving a car and kill somebody. Bedsides drunks on bikes are causing quite a few accidents.

Old thread.

You are wasting your time with the sad Neocons on this board buddy -who are far more likely to kill people by speeding in their cars than any happy go lucky cyclist.

The law here is a disgrace, and as before, must be flouted by all.

No. The bike is replacing the car. By getting rid of the bike, you are increasing the probability of car. Why take a bike if you can take a car and get the same penalty?

Must be?

Good luck with that one.


sad Neocon?

That's original. Don't think I've ever even contemplated voting for a centre-right party, let alone a neocon one.

Now now Delph chap - you well remember that the UK Poll tax was defeated by the brave masses. We could easily do the same with ZUS, and with such a foolish law as this one.

Unless of course you are a NeoCon and love to take from people?


Exactly. Please accept PF post of the day award. But never fall into the trap of expecting any logic or intelligence from Polish legislators. Thick shiite, the lot of them.

The UK Poll tax wasn't defeated by the masses, it was defeated by Conservatives who knew that the party was suffering from voter fatigue and who realised that Labour were finally starting to sort themselves out. Don't kid yourself that the people really had any influence on this - apart from their ability to vote Labour. If the Conservatives hadn't abolished it before the 1992 election, then Labour would have won regardless of what The Sun published.

Crushing ZUS - I'd absolutely love to hear your alternative ideas on that. Do bear in mind that ZUS exists in order to provide some degree of living for many people - yes, it has failings, but what would you replace it with?


I really wonder if you'd be so brave when sitting in the back of the police car on the way to the local nick, knowing that you've lost your driving licence and face a mandatory psychological test as well as a driving test before being allowed to drive in Poland again.


Who said it's the same penalty? Drink driving can still land you in prison.

I appreciate that you like to set yourself up as some sort of authority - but just because we teach doesn't mean we should kowto to some ridiculous laws IMO. Apologies for the cliche, but, If the law is an ass...

And make no mistake - it was the public disorder that killed the Poll tax. Where were you? :))

As for ZUS, it should be means tested,and centralised, as in Newcastle On Tyne - instead of there being an office in every crummy town, but no, that would destroy tens of thousands of jobs, right? Worthy of a separate thread, but I know that ZUS will never, ever, get another single zloty from me so I couldn't care less actually.

Taxi (or non drinking buddy driving people to and from the party) should replace the car.

Exactly.

You really have to wonder what's so difficult about that concept.

I'll drive to the pub tomorrow. I won't drink. No problem.

great Post. However the criminally high ZUS is hard avoided,

Really? So how do explain people in the 1990s losing their driving licenses for riding a bike while drunk?


No it wasn't. Everybody knew that virtually none of the people protesting would have voted Conservative under any circumstances anyway.


One has to wonder why people who apparently can't afford to take a taxi home after drinking are going to the expense of running a car.

I was also stopped a few days ago while riding the bike ( sober ), they asked if I have any documents and if I drank anything. When I showed them my karta pobytu they just said: Szerokiej drogi ( I think it was because of the name and surname :D ). As about your friend, I think they should've given him some penalty but that's too harsh.

Btw if someone gets his driving license taken, does he/she need to start the whole driving course from the beginning or only to go to the exam?

Harsh!

I used to have reservations about this. But if you think about it, your driving license isn't just about driving a car but about being aware of the rules of the road and the proper use of vehicles. If you are on a bike then you are in control of a vehicle on the road and so the penalties are there. Plus, it's not a hidden rule, most Polish people (and ex-pats) I know are fully aware of the consequences. I had a friend hit by a bike that was flying along the pavement and it put her in hospital for a couple of months plus re-constructive surgery that is still on-going. A bicycle is a vehicle that is capable of seriously injuring someone and not being in full control deserves strict punishment.

It was a ridiculous law. Maybe it seemed good in theory but in practice why not drive drunk if you're going to get the same punishment as riding a bike drunk. Someone on a bike can do far less damage than in a car. Thus the law inadvertently caused more harm rather than less. It's a case of understanding people's habits and psychology rather than being authoritarian and blinkered. If a guy's blind drunk on a bike then there's still the option to get him off the road but it prevents the responsible cyclist who's just had a couple and is riding home responsibly from being a criminal.