Wealthy People May Have to Pay More for Traffic Fines in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A new bill could allow fines to be multiplied by up to 14 times their basic value for those with higher incomes, reaching more than R$40,000 (US$10,000). Bill number 2994/2019 is proposed by federal deputy Israel Batista (PV/DF).

If the bill is approved, those who have net income above 20 monthly minimum wages, (now R$19,080), would pay the highest fines. Taking as an example the value of the fine for driving under the influence of alcohol, R$2,934.70, the driver in this range of income would have to pay a fine of R$41,085.80 or 14 times the size of the original penalty.

People who have a net income between ten and 20 minimum wages (R$9,540 and R$ 19,080), would have the cost of the infraction multiplied by five. Based on the same fine, the amount would be R$14,673.50.

For those with net income between four and ten minimum wages, the multiplying factor would be three (the fine would be R$8,804.10). Below this range, there is no change.

In his justification, the Green Party deputy states that “there is an inverse correlation between the purchasing power and the inclination of the individual to comply with laws and behave in a socially ethical manner. Especially in traffic.”

The deputy adds that, in Brazil, a citizen who receives one minimum wage would use 29 percent of his remuneration to pay a fine. In this example, the fine would cost R$293.47. On the other hand, an offender included among the richest one percent of the country, the same infraction represents only one percent of his monthly income.