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Project in the Chamber Proposes to Fine Drivers Who Abandon Animals on Public Roads, Amending the Traffic Code and Creating Administrative Penalties Nationwide.
The abandonment of domestic animals on public roads may cease to be just a crime outlined in the Environmental Crimes Law and also become a traffic violation, subject to fines and administrative accountability. This is the proposal of Bill No. 25/2024, currently under consideration in the Chamber of Deputies, which aims to include the act of abandoning animals on streets, roads, and highways among the violations outlined in the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB).
The initiative stems from the realization that a large part of the abandonment cases occurs via vehicles, in remote locations, highways, and urban areas, making the act subject to monitoring and registration by traffic authorities. The text seeks to fill a legal gap: currently, authorities can only act when the crime is witnessed or reported by environmental police, which rarely happens.
With the new wording, abandonment would be immediately cited by traffic agents, who could document the violation upon witnessing or proving the disposal of an animal on public roads. The goal is to grant administrative autonomy to traffic authorities to curb the practice, reinforcing the penalties already outlined in environmental legislation.
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How the Project Changes the Traffic Code
The PL 25/2024 proposes to amend Article 170 of the CTB to include animal abandonment as an autonomous violation. According to the text, it will be considered a violation “to abandon an animal on public roads, regardless of whether it poses a direct risk to the circulation of vehicles or pedestrians.” The measure has an educational and punitive character, allowing citation to occur even if the act does not result in an accident.
The proposal classifies the conduct as a serious violation, with multiplied fines and the possibility of suspension of driving rights. The vehicle used in the act may be identified by monitoring cameras, radars, or reports filed with visual evidence. In case of recurrence, the project provides for increased penalties and automatic communication to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to initiate a criminal investigation.
The text also stipulates that municipal and state traffic authorities may enter into agreements with shelters, municipalities, and animal protection NGOs to monitor recurrent abandonment points. Data integration would allow for tracking critical areas and reducing the response time of rescue teams.
Legal Basis and Justification of the Project
Currently, animal abandonment is a crime outlined in the article 32 of Law No. 9.605/1998, punishable by two to five years in prison and fines. However, the classification depends on direct observation and the intervention of environmental police, which limits practical enforcement.
By incorporating the conduct into the CTB, the legislator seeks to expand the scope of punishment, leveraging existing electronic and physical monitoring structures on highways and urban centers.
According to the project’s justification, “most abandonments are made by drivers who leave animals on the roadside or in vacant lots. The Traffic Code needs to reflect this reality and allow for direct action by public agents.” The proposal was presented with the support of deputies linked to the Parliamentary Front in Defense of Animals and the environmental protection movement.
The wording also interacts with the Sansão Law (Law No. 14.064/2020), which increased penalties for mistreatment of dogs and cats but did not classify abandonment on public roads as a traffic violation. With the new proposal, Brazil would treat the act under two distinct spheres: environmental and administrative, expanding prevention tools.
Context and Expected Impact
It is estimated that more than 3.5 million cats and dogs are abandoned annually on the streets of Brazil, according to research from the World Health Organization (WHO) and data compiled by animal protection institutes.
During long holidays and seasonal changes, these numbers soar, especially on highways and urban access points, where drivers discard unwanted animals.
With the advancement of intelligent cameras and data integration between municipalities and highway concessionaires, abandonment has become easier to document. The project proposes that images captured by security systems can serve as administrative proof, allowing citation even without direct intervention.
Traffic experts assess that the measure has the potential to reduce abandonment cases and improve road safety, since loose animals on roads pose a risk of accidents. The National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) estimates that more than 2,000 occurrences per year involve the run-over of animals on federal highways, causing significant economic and environmental damage.
Monitoring and Practical Application
If the project is approved, it will be up to the National Traffic Council (Contran) to regulate oversight procedures and determine how the violation will be verified. The expectation is that the rule will come into effect 180 days after presidential sanction, a period intended for the training of agents and updating of monitoring systems.
The traffic departments (Detrans) will need to create specific channels for reporting with submission of images and geographical locations. Meanwhile, municipalities and highway concessionaires will be responsible for reinforcing signage and educational campaigns, especially in areas with recurrent disposal.
In operational terms, the measure could be integrated into existing programs for urban animal protection, such as CastraPet and microchipping campaigns, enabling faster identification and accountability of guardians.
Processing and Next Steps
The project is under consideration in the Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development and in the Committee on Transportation and Transport of the Chamber of Deputies, before proceeding to the Committee on Constitution and Justice (CCJ). Since it amends the CTB, the proposal will also need to pass through the Federal Senate before going to presidential sanction.
There is still no decision on the exact fine amount, but lawmakers suggest it be equivalent to serious violations with a multiplier factor of 5, which would place the penalty in the range of R$ 1,465.00, in addition to points on the driver’s license (CNH) and other administrative sanctions.
Reflection and Social Relevance
The inclusion of animal abandonment in the Traffic Code represents a institutional advance in the fight against mistreatment, transforming a previously invisible conduct into an act subject to immediate punishment. In addition to protecting animals, the measure contributes to public and environmental safety, by reducing accidents and controlling the uncontrolled growth of animals in urban areas.
If approved, the proposal could mark a significant shift in how the country views the responsibility of guardians and the role of the government in oversight.
Brazil, which ranks among the countries with the largest population of domestic animals in the world, begins to discuss the issue within a broader framework — that of traffic and social coexistence.
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