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New Toll System Without Barriers, Free Flow, Has Become a Headache for Drivers! With Over 1 Million Fines Imposed, the Senate is Considering Possible Suspension of Penalties. Experts Point Out Flaws and Risks, While ANTT Defends the Model. Understand the Impact and What May Change!
The Brazilian highways are undergoing a technological transformation that promised agility and modernization in the toll collection system.
However, the implementation of the electronic model without barriers, known as Free Flow, has generated significant controversy among drivers and authorities.
The lack of clarity in its operation and difficulties in paying the fees have resulted in a significant number of penalties. Since the start of operations, more than 1.1 million fines have been imposed, which raised a debate in the Federal Senate about the feasibility of the system.
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Fines Affect More Than 1 Million Drivers
According to data from the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), only on the Rio-Santos highway (BR-101), 1,190,000 drivers have been fined for failing to pay the toll after using the road.
According to Fernando Feitosa, highway regulation manager at ANTT, the default rate represents about 5% of the highway’s traffic, a rate considered “normal” in other countries where the model is also adopted.
Still, the negative fallout from the high volume of violations has generated a strong reaction in the Legislature, leading to discussions about a possible suspension of fines.
Senate Discusses Suspension of Penalties
The impact of Free Flow has led the Federal Senate to open a debate on the legality of the penalties.
A public hearing was held to discuss the difficulties faced by drivers, and a bill proposes to suspend for one year the fines imposed by the system.
The proposal was included in 2024 in the project of Senator Eduardo Girão (NOVO-CE), which aims to allow different forms of toll payment on federal highways (PL 4.643/2020).
For the measure to take effect, the Senate needs to approve the change before presidential sanction.
For Feitosa of ANTT, suspending the fines could have a negative effect on the credibility of the system: “We must be careful with the approval of a law that could discredit Free Flow in Brazil.
We have the example of South Africa, which suspended all fines imposed at the beginning of operations and the system ended up losing credibility,” he stated.
How Does the Electronic Free Flow Toll Work?
Unlike the traditional model, the Free Flow does not require drivers to stop at toll plazas.
Instead, the fee is automatically charged through cameras and radio frequency sensors, which identify vehicle plates and charge based on road usage.
Those who have electronic tags, like Sem Parar, have the fee automatically deducted. For other drivers, payment can be made via app, website, or at authorized locations.
If the driver does not make the payment within 30 days, they receive a serious fine, with an addition of 5 points on the National Driver’s License (CNH) and a fine of R$ 195.13.
Problems and Challenges of the New Model
Despite the modernization proposal, experts point out flaws that need to be corrected before the system expands. Among the main reported issues are:
- Vehicle Cloning, which can result in improper charges to the owner of the original car;
- Flaws in reading plates and tags, leading to unjust fines;
- Difficulties in accessing payment channels, causing unaware drivers to be penalized without realizing it.
Now, the discussion in the Senate may define the future of Free Flow in Brazil, balancing the need for technological advancement with the protection of drivers’ rights.
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