Drones will film and monitor illegal street racing in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Reports of illegal street racing, called “pegas”, on Avenida das Américas in Barra da Tijuca, have led Detran, the transit authority, to deploy high-tech to effectively curb this activity on the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare.

Drones operated by agents of the Cabinet for Institutional Security (GSI) began to be used in surveillance, and the numbers of the first actions are impressive.

In one action alone last week, 82 of the 89 drivers targeted were fined.

The importance of drones in enforcement is largely for two reasons: Images transmitted in real-time help identify cars traveling well above normal speeds and also allow for observation of crowds at gas stations where runners meet before such “pegas” are conducted.

Wednesday and Thursday mornings are the days when Avenida das Américas is usually transformed into a race track, and during the inspections, the agents check modifications to the car that are typical of those who have turned it into a racing machine to compete in the “Pegas,” such as lowering the suspension, a tampered engine, and a manipulated exhaust system.

Participation in “Pegas” is a traffic offense and can result in suspension or revocation of a driver’s license for two years. Drivers face a prison sentence of six months to three years, a fine, and the cancellation of their vehicle registration.