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Proposal Approved by the Chamber Toughens Penalties for Those Who Use Vehicles to Abandon Animals and Provides for Suspension of the Driver’s License for Up to 18 Months, in Addition to Fines and Other More Severe Measures to Combat Animal Cruelty.
Drivers caught using vehicles to abandon dogs and other animals may have their National Driver’s License (CNH) suspended for up to 18 months, if the new proposal approved by the House of Representatives is enacted.
The Transportation and Communications Commission approved the bill that classifies the act of abandoning or assisting in the abandonment of animals on public roads with the use of automobiles as a serious infraction.
The measure also provides for fines and strengthens the fight against the abandonment of domestic animals in Brazil.
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Abandonment of Animals as a Serious Infraction
According to the text, drafted by Deputy Ricardo Ayres (Republicanos-TO), the punishment becomes more severe, aiming to curb abandonment, especially of dogs and cats.
The bill, which amends provisions of the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB), provides for the suspension of the right to drive for 12 months in cases of abandonment of any animal.
In cases of abandonment of dogs or cats, the suspension increases to 18 months, in addition to the imposition of a fine applicable to serious infractions.
Bills and Combatting Animal Cruelty
The discussion about the abandonment of animals using vehicles gained momentum after the processing of PL 25/24 and three other related proposals (PLs 236/24, 951/24, and 257/24), all related to animal protection and the strengthening of penalties for offenders.
The main goal is to discourage practices considered cruel and facilitate the accountability of those who use cars to facilitate abandonment.
According to Deputy Ricardo Ayres, the availability of vehicles makes animal abandonment easier and harder to track, which requires the state to implement strict measures to curb this behavior’s recurrence.
“Excluding traffic offenders is an effective way to deter new occurrences,” Ayres argued during the presentation of the approved report.
The deputy also emphasized that abandonment is recognized as an act of cruelty, requiring strong action from the government.
Processing and Next Steps
The proposal’s vote was supported by Deputies Matheus Laiola (União-PR), Marcelo Queiroz (Progressistas-RJ), and Bruno Lima (Progressistas-SP), all signatories of the original text and related projects.
Before reaching the Transportation and Communications Commission, the text had already passed through the Environment and Sustainable Development Commission, where it was approved in the form of a substitute, maintaining the focus on protecting domestic animals.
In addition to the suspension of the CNH, the legislation provides for fines and the registration of the infraction as serious, increasing the impact of administrative penalties for those who abandon animals.
Offenders will have to serve the suspension period and undergo a retraining course, as determined by the Brazilian Traffic Code.
The penalties will be added to those provided for in the Environmental Crimes Law (Law 9.605/1998), which already classifies abandonment and mistreatment of animals as crimes, with penalties of detention and fines.
Numbers of Animal Abandonment in Brazil
Concern about the abandonment of domestic animals has grown in Brazil, where, according to estimates from animal protection entities, more than 30 million dogs and cats currently live on the streets.
The Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine warns of the risk to public health, as abandoned animals can transmit zoonoses and exacerbate security issues in urban areas.
The use of vehicles, according to specialists, complicates identifying those responsible and broadens the scope of the problem, as many abandon animals in locations far from home.
The Path of the Law to Presidential Sanction
The proposal’s process still requires analysis by the Commission on Constitution and Justice and Citizenship (CCJ) of the House of Representatives, followed by a vote in the Plenary.
If approved at all stages, the new law will proceed to the Federal Senate for consideration.
Only after being sanctioned by the President of the Republic will the measures take effect nationwide.
Until then, animal protection entities emphasize the importance of reporting cases of abandonment, advising witnesses to note vehicle license plates and file police reports to facilitate the investigation and punishment of those responsible.
Legislation on Mistreatment and Abandonment
Brazilian legislation has been increasing the rigor of penalties for mistreatment and abandonment of animals since the last decade.
In September 2020, Law 14.064/2020 was enacted, which increased penalties for crimes against dogs and cats, establishing imprisonment of two to five years, in addition to fines and prohibition of custody.
The approval of the new proposal reinforces the understanding that combating animal abandonment requires joint actions from traffic, environmental, and public safety authorities.
Accountability and Reporting
With the possible inclusion of the suspension of the CNH as an additional penalty, the country may enhance the accountability of offenders and deter the use of vehicles as tools for abandoning dogs, cats, and other animals.
While the measure is not yet in effect, entities and official bodies continue to recommend that the public use official channels to report abandonment cases, contributing to the protection of domestic animals and the enforcement of laws.
Do you believe that measures like the suspension of the CNH can truly deter animal abandonment, or are broader actions necessary to solve the problem?
Diminuir a carga tributária sobre vacinas, insumos e ração ninguém quer.
Abrir hospitais veterinários públicos ninguém cogita.
Muitas vezes esse abandono é consequencia dos altos preços de produtos veterinários, consultas e alimentação. Acontece com humanos também.
É mais fácil suspender a CNH de quem usa o carro para abandonar os pobres animais.
Quer dizer que se o sujeito parar o carro onde não tem câmera, colocar um boné na cabeça, tirar o **** do carro e o levar na coleira até uma área deserta, então o abandono irá diminuir?
Quem abandona animais é mesmo uma pessoa desprezível, mas muitas pessoas abandonam por não encontrarem alguém para ficar com eles, isso pelos mesmos motivos pelos quais estão sendo abandonados: razões financeiras.