In short
- Stay in the car, lower the window and keep your hands on the wheel. Get out only when told to.
- If you drive on a foreign licence, always carry it together with your passport or residence card.
- You can refuse a fine – then a court decides. An accepted fine is final immediately.
How to behave
- 1
Stop in a safe place
Slow down, pull over onto the hard shoulder or a lay-by and turn on the hazard lights.
- 2
Stay in the car
Get out only when told to. Lower the window and keep your hands on the wheel so the officer can see them.
- 3
Listen to the reason for the stop
The officer introduces themselves, gives their rank and the reason for stopping you. You have the right to ask to see their police ID.
- 4
Show your documents
Your ID (passport, residence card or the mObywatel app), and if your driving licence was not issued in Poland – that too. Stay calm and don’t argue – you can raise objections later.
Who can stop you
- A uniformed police officer – anywhere.
- A plain-clothes officer – only in a built-up area; they must show their ID immediately and at night use a signal disc or a torch with a red light.
- At night outside built-up areas – only a uniformed officer next to a marked police car.
- Other services too, e.g. the Road Transport Inspection (ITD) or the Border Guard – within their powers.
Which documents you need
A driver with a Polish licence only needs an ID in Poland – the police check the licence, registration and OC in the CEPiK database. Foreign driving licences are not in that database, so if your licence was issued in another country, always carry it with you.
A fine – accept it or not?
You have the right to refuse a fine (mandat). The police then send a request for punishment to a court, which hears the case – and may impose a lower or higher penalty than the fine, plus court costs.
The officer may also just give you a warning. If you believe the officer broke the rules, you can file a complaint – in writing or electronically, ideally with a description and evidence.