Cat avoided, breathalyser didn’t: Puławy DUI

15 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

A Puławy driver swerved to avoid a cat and then failed a breathalyser. This explains drunk driving Poland rules and what expats should expect.

Lead: A motorist in Puławy said she swerved to avoid a cat and then failed a roadside breathalyser, highlighting concerns about drunk driving Poland. Police stopped two separate drivers in one evening, and both face license suspension and court charges.

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Drunk driving Poland: the Puławy case

Police responded after 8pm on Thursday, 13 August to a minor collision on Rybacka Street in Puławy. Officers found a 37-year-old woman beside an Opel that left the road and hit a parked Peugeot. She told police a cat ran into the road. Consequently she made a sharp swerve and went onto the shoulder. Moreover, a roadside breath test showed she had almost 1.0 per mille of alcohol in her blood. Therefore officers confiscated her driving licence on the spot. In addition, the woman will face criminal proceedings and a court will decide further penalties.

Another roadside stop and high result

The same night police stopped a second driver from Łęczyński county. Officers pulled over a 43-year-old man for speeding. However, a breathalyser then showed nearly 2.5 per mille of alcohol. Consequently, police took his licence as well. Moreover, both cases illustrate how police patrols combine traffic checks with breath testing. Therefore authorities aim to remove obviously impaired drivers from the roads quickly.

Why this matters to expats

If you live or drive in Poland you should understand local rules and consequences. Poland maintains a very low tolerated alcohol level for drivers. In practice even small amounts can end your right to drive or create criminal liability. Moreover, roadside officers use handheld breathalysers at traffic stops. Therefore you should never assume moderate drinking makes driving safe. In addition, police can detain a licence and summon you to court, and you must attend.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: In Poland police enforce strict rules on alcohol and driving. A roadside breathalyser can lead to immediate licence suspension. Moreover, if police charge you, a court decides penalties. For expats, note that a driving licence suspension can affect insurance and residency paperwork. Also, official documents in Poland use systems like PESEL (national ID number), ZUS (social security), and NFZ (public health insurance). Therefore carry your passport or ID, and report incidents to your insurer. Lastly, keep a local emergency number handy and consider legal advice if authorities charge you.

Polish police stress that alcohol severely impairs reaction time and judgment. Consequently the force reminds drivers to avoid alcohol before driving. Moreover, the two incidents in Puławy show how everyday events, like an animal on the road, can escalate when a driver has alcohol in their system. Therefore punishing impaired driving reduces risk for other road users.

Expats should also note that traffic offences can affect future residency or employment checks. For example, courts can issue fines and criminal records may appear in background checks. In addition, insurance companies may refuse claims after a crash if the driver drove under the influence. Therefore you should know your insurer’s rules and have contacts for English-speaking legal help.

Police will present both cases to the court. Consequently judges will set penalties based on evidence and circumstances. Moreover, sentences can include fines, licence bans, and sometimes prison for severe or repeated offences.

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