Since Thursday, there is simply a regulation of the head of the MON on the prohibition of shooting military facilities and critical infrastructure without authorisation. The fresh rules let the services to intervene and impose penalties – fine or detention – for photographing or recording specified places.
The prohibition of shooting includes all ways of capturing, photographing and filming both from the ground and from the air. Regulation concerns bodies, institutions, formations, entrepreneurs or organisational units in which the facilities are located.
According to the data, about 25 1000 buildings – buildings, plants and equipment, including military facilities, bridges, tunnels, railways, trains, airports, ports, post offices, power installations and government buildings – are subject to this ban. Anyone who gets caught taking pictures can anticipate a advanced fine or even a prison penalty.
The fine can scope up to PLN 20 1000 and the individual can besides be punished with imprisonment from 5 to 30 days. In addition, a mobile telephone or a camera will be confiscated if you catch taking pictures despite the ban.
The prohibition shall apply only if the authoritative sign of the prohibition is clearly visible on the building or moving object. The fresh rules besides supply for exceptions to circumstantial situations and persons.
The German media already pay attention to the increasing wave of criticism of fresh regulations. Tagesschau stresses that many commentators find the rules hard to enforce in practice – in the day of universal access to smartphones, almost everyone can unwittingly violate the ban, and those active in spy activities can act in a way that is hard to detect by monitoring close military facilities.
Poland plays a key function as an ally of Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Polish services regularly detain persons suspected of spying on Russian or Belarusian intelligence services, especially in the context of attempts to get information about critical infrastructure.
It is worth noting that the fresh regulations concern not only tourists, but besides residents who must be aware of the fresh regulations and their consequences. The ban on photography may affect everyday life and business activity in Poland, which is why it is so crucial to realize fresh regulations and their application in practice.
What are the exceptions to the ban on shooting? Does everyone gotta respect the fresh rules? What are the consequences of the infringement? These and another questions we will effort to answer in further articles to give readers full information about the fresh regulations and their impact on life in Poland.
More here:
New photography ban in Poland: what does it mean for tourists and residents?
