RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Speaking at the inaugural ceremony for the widening of the BR-116 highway in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday morning, August 12th, that Brazilian highways will no longer be equipped with mobile radars as of next week. However, he did not provide further details on how this will be achieved.
“To make it very clear, these are not just words. I’m in a struggle with Tarcísio [Freitas, Minister of Infrastructure] to end this in Brazil. This “mafia” of fines which are going into the pockets of some in this nation. It’s a robbery; this is a speed trap industry going on in Brazil. I am hereby announcing that, as of next week, we will no longer have mobile radars in Brazil.”
“This cowardice of standing downhill, of having someone behind a tree waiting to fine you will no longer exist,” he concluded.
In June, Bolsonaro submitted to Rodrigo Maia, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, a bill to amend the National Driver’s License (CNH). Among the main changes are extending its validity from five to ten years for adult drivers and from 2.5 to five years for elderly drivers. In addition, the limit of points for its cancellation will double from 20 to 40.