Polish Gangplank To Czech Gets Farmer Fined
Warsaw, Poland 8 February, 2010 - The Polish-Czech Border Commission is up in arms over a gangplank built to access a Czech road from a property in Jarnostów, Poland.
The inter-government commission said it may cost Polish farmer Roman Dobruk 100,000PLN to remove a gangplank he built using some left over materials on his property.
Mr Dobruk's property lies 30 meters from the Poland-Czech border and with snow cutting off his access to Polish roads Mr Dobruk built a small gangplank over the stream that marks the international boundary at the back of his property to gain access to a plowed and usable Czech road.
"I just leveled the ground to the asphalt," Mr Dobruk said.
"My daughter in law is expecting a child, and here again my mother is sick, she also needs to get to the doctor regularly," he said.
But the issue is not over the use of the road; both countries are in the Schengen agreement: there are virtually no boundaries.
But crossing the border should only take place on available roads and border crossings.
“A citizen, if there is a technical or territorial possibility, can cross the border,” lieutenant-colonel of the border guard in the Silesia region Aleksander Kie³t said.
Theoretically, the Polish citizen shouldn’t have to use foreign roads at all.
Surveyor maps show two parallel roads, one in the Czech republic, one in Poland. But in reality, the Polish road doesn’t exist.
“Only for skis and sleighs,” Mr Dobruk said.
The whole affair is over only four concrete rounds, elements of his construction, which is currently invisible due to snow cover.
"Such a stupid issue's caused an affair in the whole country and then some," Mr Dobruk said.
But while a Pole can freely use Czech roads, border crossings are completely different, requiring official documentation and infrastructure.
Along with official letters and documentation from various government organisations Mr Dobruk received a fine for 100,000PLN.
But this won't stop him crossing his property and national boundary.
""I'll just make the gangplank a drawbridge and then maybe it won't bother anyone," Mr Dobruk said.
"I'll have put it down for the ride and pull it up when it won't be needed, because I have no other option."
Officials told Mr Dobruk he has until spring to remove his installation.
But by that time the snow should melt and he'll be able to use Polish roads again, anyway.
.
Bottom half text
By Victoria Ziarkowski
Freelance Writer
Do you know anyone who might be interested in this information? Use the links below to publish on Twitter and Facebook.
Share This On Twitter Share This On Facebook
We also have an Amazon Affiliate Link should you feel like ordering yourself a present from Amazon and crediting us with a tiny commission on the transaction (you pay the same, we get a cut from Amazon). It helps us support this service.
