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Get ready: a new era for traffic is upon us, and it promises to be revolutionary. Remember that ticket you received, but you were unsure whether you actually committed the offense? Well, the new law is coming to put an end to that uncertainty once and for all! With Bill 2990/2024, introduced in the Chamber of Deputies, traffic enforcement in Brazil may be about to gain an increased dose of transparency and justice.
The new law, proposed by federal deputy Dayany Bittencourt, seeks to bring about a profound change in the process of issuing fines. The idea is simple but powerful: for each recorded infraction, especially those captured by radars and cameras, the responsible agency must attach clear images as evidence of the incident. With this, the project aims to reduce what many drivers call the “fine industry” and, at the same time, guarantee a more robust right to defense for those who are ticketed.
How does the new law 2990/2024 work?
The new law, if approved, requires that all fine notices include visual evidence of the offense committed, along with the image of the vehicle's license plate. In other words, no fines without a photo! This central point of the proposal is based on the so-called “dynamic evidence theory”, where the burden of proof falls on the inspection body, which will be required to provide these images for the fine to be validated.
By requiring visual evidence, the new law aims to ensure that the inspection process is more transparent and that drivers have the possibility of contesting the fine based on concrete evidence. In this way, traffic authorities will be required to invest in technology, adopting more modern cameras and robust data storage systems to record and preserve this evidence.
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The impact of the law on drivers' routines
For drivers, the new law brings a big change to how they deal with a ticket. Imagine you’ve been notified of a traffic violation. With the new law in place, you’ll simply need to check the attached images to see exactly what happened, and if you disagree, you’ll have the chance to appeal based on something more solid than just the word of the traffic officer or a vague notice. This added transparency promises to have a significant impact on drivers’ trust in the traffic system.
Furthermore, the project aims to curb dubious fines, commonly criticized by drivers who feel they are victims of the “ticket industry”. The need for visual evidence reduces the room for misinterpretation or excessive citations, making the process fairer and more fact-based.
Transparency and the right to defense: a step forward for drivers
With the implementation of the new law, drivers are expected to view traffic inspections in a less oppressive and more justice-based manner. The proposal is a milestone for Brazilian traffic, as it encourages a cultural change in ticketing and inspection practices. Violations now require proof. With the image in hand, drivers will be able to clearly identify the time and place of the violation, enabling a more efficient appeal, if necessary.
Congresswoman Dayany Bittencourt, author of the bill, argues that the change brings a real victory for drivers. “We want safer traffic, but also fairer. This bill is a step towards that, ensuring that drivers have a voice and can question when necessary, always based on concrete visual evidence,” the congresswoman stated in a recent speech in the Chamber.
Next steps: when could the new law come into effect?
Bill 2990/2024 still needs to go through several stages in the Chamber of Deputies before being approved and sanctioned. If approved, it will be incorporated into the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB), marking a new phase in the relationship between drivers and traffic authorities.
Thus, the new law promises to bring an era of greater transparency and fairness in traffic, reducing the scope for fines without clear grounds. For drivers, this means a stronger right to defense and a fine system that will finally have to prove each infraction with the clarity of a picture.
