The Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, Waldemar Żurek, accepted and paid a fine for a traffic offense after a recording involving him appeared online. The case was widely reported in the media, and a day after the footage was published, the Kraków police initiated proceedings. Officers determined that the minister failed to yield the right of way to a pedestrian at a crosswalk. Żurek was fined 1,500 złoty and received 15 penalty points.
The incident occurred at the end of January this year in Kraków during the production of the online program “Duży w Maluchu”, in which the minister was conducting an interview with a journalist while driving a Fiat 126p. Footage published online shows the vehicle driven by Żurek approaching a pedestrian crossing at the moment a woman steps onto it. The program’s host pointed out that he had almost driven into the woman, to which the minister reportedly replied:
“No, come on—she was still far away.”
Although Żurek insisted that he was driving safely, many commentators emphasized that such behavior could result in 15 penalty points and a hefty fine. Public appeals for police intervention also appeared. Only a day after the controversy erupted did the Voivodeship Police Headquarters in Kraków address the matter.
After analyzing the recordings, officers of the Kraków Municipal Police concluded that an offense had occurred involving failure to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk. Under Article 86b of the Code of Offenses, such a violation carries a fine of no less than 1,500 złoty and 15 penalty points.
In connection with the proceedings, Minister Żurek ultimately agreed to waive the immunity he holds as Prosecutor General and accept the fine—on Saturday he paid the penalty and accepted the penalty points.
The incident sparked a broad debate in the media and on social networking sites. Under posts featuring the recording, internet users left comments and quotations criticizing the minister’s behavior.