Burning grass or burning leaves on private plots is something common, and at the same time it often becomes the cause of fires. The government decided to tighten their penalties, as well as introduce a fine of up to 30,000. PLN for people who show “gross negligence” or intentional action.
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Recently A fire in the Biebrza National Park Fire consumed nearly 450 hectares of valuable green areas. The losses were initially estimated at PLN 10 million, but the local nature suffered irreparable losses that cannot be valued.
In the face of the growing number of fires and their destructive effects, which are intensified by hydrological drought in Poland, the government decided to act. The Ministry of Justice has prepared a draft significant tightening of criminal provisions – an amendment to the Code of Offenses and the Code of Conduct in cases of offenses. “The goal is to put an end to the impunity of people responsible for causing a fire hazard, whether it is intentionally or by gross negligence,” it was explained on government pages.
30 thousand PLN fine for plot owners. The government wants to put an end to the impunity
The changes introduced by the government in the law are primarily to apply to legal consequences for disturbing fire in places such as forests, meadows and peat bogs, as well as at a distance of less than 100 meters from them. More severe penalties are also to be burned by smoking outside the places designated for this (Art. 82 paragraph 3 of the Code of Offenses).
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The design project assumes, among others Raising the upper limit for such offenses from the current 5,000 up to even 30 thousand PLN. Sanctions are to be more severe, among others for burning grass and distributing fire in forests, in meadows and peat bogs.
Currently, the offenses qualified in these provisions of the Code of offenses are facing a reprimand, fine or arrest. According to the new proposal, from the catalog of penalties for offenses listed in art. 82 parish 1, 2, 4 and 5 the mildest punishment will disappear – reprimand, and the penalty of restriction of liberty will be added. This means that each of these offenses will be threatened with a uniform and more severe punishment: detention, restriction of liberty or a fine.
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The same, sharpened penalties will face people who have not fulfilled their obligations in the scope of ensuring appropriate fire protection conditions of the object or area. Sanctions will also include burning people, among others grass at a distance of less than 100 meters from buildings, forests and other similar areas, as well as in a situation where such firing hinders traffic.
The proposal provides for identical penalties for people who carelessly handle fire or do not provide adequate supervision over the burning place.
The draft amendment awaits the decision to enter the legislative and program works of the Council of Ministers in the list, which is the next stage of the legislative procedure.
