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An Unpaid Fine For J Walking Issued By Police In 2007. Still on my record?


Foxxalo
23 Aug 2011 #1
I was a student in Poland and had to leave Poland in 2007 due to death in the family.

I had a ticket I recieved that week by a Police for J Walking, of which I gave one of my classmates the 50zl to pay the ticket.

My classmate, instead of paying this ticket used the money, so the ticket never got paid for.

Now I need to find out whether the fine is still active even after 4 years since I left Poland?

Someone was telling me that after a certain period of time it falls off my record.

Is this true?
sobieski 106 | 2,118
23 Aug 2011 #2
I got fined two years ago 100 PLN for ignoring a red light on a pedestrian crossing (I was walking, not driving). I tried to ignore it, but last year the Urząd Skarbowy caught up with me and I had to pay, niestety :)
OP Foxxalo
23 Aug 2011 #3
How long was it after?

And how much did u have to pay?

Can you go to jail for things like that?

I am now out of Poland, living in another country how might this affect me if later I decide to get a criminal background check?

Is this placed under "crimes" or is it like parking tickets or any other violations that are not considered penal crimes?

Does the amount increase if you do not pay it by a certain date or did it remain the same?
sobieski 106 | 2,118
23 Aug 2011 #4
I had to pay 100 PLN. As far as I know there is a difference - moneywise - between J-walking an ignoring the red light (which I did).

Actually I got a letter from my bank that the tax people requested to block my bank accounts untill I paid up. That was almost a year later.

Somewhere I read (maybe other long-term residents can confirm this - Delph or Harry?) that you have a 3/10 chance you not paying your fine will be ignored.

It did not work with me.
delphiandomine 88 | 18,131
23 Aug 2011 #5
Somewhere I read (maybe other long-term residents can confirm this - Delph or Harry?) that you have a 3/10 chance you not paying your fine will be ignored.

I wouldn't risk it - the usual way is to go after the bank account, and if they can't find you, they can put an alert in the Schengen database. It's really not worth the hassle of triggering a 'hit' in the database over an unpaid fine.

But from what I've heard - they are exceptionally slow at processing unpaid fines. They get there, but it can be years afterwards. I think there was even one case recently in Poznan where they took 5 years to actually get round to sending a demand for money!

Can you go to jail for things like that?

Sure, it's an unpaid fine. Best bet is simply to transfer the money to them, along with as many details as possible.
OP Foxxalo
24 Aug 2011 #6
Thank you for the info, all that responded so far.....

I don't have the ticket with me here.

I am in Brazil.

Where do I even pay it?

Do they have a website online or something for people to pay fines?

Anyone know?

Also do fines show on things like criminal background checks?
isthatu2 4 | 2,694
24 Aug 2011 #7
Lols,is that why so many Poles in Doncaster clog up the crossings and dont dream of actually crossing the road when there are ZERO CARS IN SIGHT ,just because the red fella is flashing?

I shall be slightly less forcefull in my use of sharp elbows next time( a techneque incidently I picked up from Nuns riding Warsaw trams....;) ) then.
OP Foxxalo
24 Aug 2011 #8
lol ha ha ha
LwowskaKrakow 28 | 431
25 Aug 2011 #9
sobieski
Strange, how did the tax people know about you bank account and threaten to block it?
sobieski 106 | 2,118
25 Aug 2011 #10
Well, in fact I got a letter from my bank (Kredyt Bank) that they were instructed to do so on orders of our local Urząd Skarbowy.

I was also a bit mystified by this - how did they know which bank I am with - but then of course I pay my taxes each year straight from my account. Maybe that is why?
1jola 14 | 1,879
25 Aug 2011 #11
In Warsaw, if you cross streets at cross-walks on red lights, you are considered a hick (an import to the big city).

In Paris, it is exactly the opposite.

It's your choice.
OWELL
11 Sep 2011 #13
what I am thinking was why tax dept gets involved?its none of there business.In 1999 i formed an spooka zoo company and forgot about it in 2007 they caught up with me cuz I didnt file taxes of the company even if it was supp to be zero zero on the pit,so I just sold the company to someone who bought it from me for 1 zlotay and got me off the hook by taking all the responsibilities whereas in us to begin with this kinda sale will be illegal and if it did go through the seller and buyer will both responsible for the fines if any or taxes..

Someone was telling me that after a certain period of time it falls off my record.

I am not sure but a vietnamese polish undercover cop friend told me that once the case goes to judge the judges lately are issuing warrant of arrest atleast for speeding tickets for contempt of court(dont know whats it called in polish but its my version again) and then is fed in shengen data base and polish people esp in Uk are found (by there working documents) arrested and deported(I definately know this happens in US but in poland i am not sure but again ..)I googled and found that lots of people are being deported from UK for petty crimes they comitted in poland.I wouldnt risk it but pay my fines:)
Rogalski 5 | 94
11 Sep 2011 #14
It's technically a traffic violation and as such even if you don't pay it, it doesn't constitute a criminal record.
OWELL
11 Sep 2011 #15
yes,but when you are required to go to the sad(court) and you dont appear before the judge,he/she gives u 3 chances then issues a warrant for ones arrest not for the voilation but contempt of court....(i really dont know whats that procedure called but I am assuming as per american court system that issues a bailable warrant but you have to be arrested and taken for short detention till one can post bail which usually is to the amount of the fines one gets later when appearing in court)I know this for a fact as I used to accept cheques in a business and they arrested a grey hound bus driver for a 4$ cheque and was bailed for 450$)


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