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Starlink Antennas Installed in Inappropriate Locations Have Led to a Significant Increase in Fines for Visibility Obstruction, According to the PRF, While the Equipment Continues to Gain Popularity Among Drivers Across the Country.
The Popularization of Starlink Antennas in Brazilian Vehicles Has Made the Satellite Internet Technology Developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX the Focus of Traffic Enforcement.
Although the equipment is authorized in the country, installation in locations such as windshields, dashboards, or front windows has Led to an Increase in Citations for Visibility Obstruction.
Data from the Federal Highway Police (PRF) Show That, in 2024, Approximately 33,500 Fines Were Registered, and the First Half of 2025 Surpassed 15,000 Citations for the Same Reason.
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Satellite Internet and Expansion of Starlink
Starlink Uses Low Earth Orbit Satellites to Provide High-Speed Internet in Areas Where Traditional Infrastructure is Limited.
The Sold Kit Includes a Self-Adjusting Antenna and a Wi-Fi Modem.
Although Originally Designed for Rural or Remote Areas, the Equipment Has Also Been Used by Drivers Who Travel Long Distances, Such as Truck Drivers, Motor Home Owners, and Professionals Who Depend on Constant Connection.
According to Digital Infrastructure Specialists, This Type of Solution Has Expanded Internet Access on Highway Sections That Previously Lacked Coverage.
With the Increased Use, the PRF Has Started Identifying Cases Where the Antenna is Installed Inside the Cabin in Areas That Interfere with the Driver’s Field of Vision.
The Approaches Have Focused on These Scenarios, Considered Irregular According to Traffic Legislation.
Offenses and CTB Rules on Visibility
Brazilian Legislation Does Not Prevent the Use of Satellite Internet in Vehicles but Sets Clear Limits on Objects Placed in Essential Visibility Areas.
The Article 230, Section XVI, of the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB) Classifies It as a Serious Offense to Drive a Vehicle with the Windshield or Front Windows Partially or Completely Obstructed by Films, Panels, or Any Item That Impairs Vision.
The Penalty Includes a Fine of R$ 195.23, Five Points on the National Driver’s License (CNH), and Retention of the Vehicle Until Regularization.
The Resolution 960/2022 of Contran Reinforces the Prohibition of Objects That Compromise Visibility.
The PRF Reports That, Among the Situations Found in Inspections, Are Antennas Installed on the Windshield, Resting on the Dashboard, or Fixed to the Front Windows.
According to Agents Consulted by the Report, This Positioning Can Create Shadow Areas, Making It Difficult to Perceive Other Vehicles, Pedestrians, or Obstacles.
The Agency Also Warns That Improvised Installations, Such as Using Suction Cups or Tapes, Increase the Risk of the Equipment Detaching During Driving.
According to Vehicle Safety Technicians, Any Loose Object Inside the Cabin Can Move During Sudden Braking and Cause Injuries or Damage.
Increasing Fines for Obstructed Visibility
The Most Recent Data from the PRF Indicates That, in 2024, There Were 33,555 Citations for Visibility Obstruction Classified Under Article 230, Section XVI, of the CTB.
In the First Half of 2025, the Total Already Exceeded 15,000 Offenses on Federal Highways.
Although the Statistics Do Not Detail Which Cases Specifically Involved Starlink Antennas, the Agency and Sources from the Automotive Sector State That the Number of Such Occurrences has Increased in Proportion to the Expansion of the Technology in the Country.
States Such As Bahia, Minas Gerais, Paraná, and São Paulo Concentrate a Large Portion of the Citations.
In Regional Inspections, PRF Teams Have Guided Drivers, Cited Drivers with Improper Installations, and Requested the Removal of Equipment When It Compromises Visibility.
According to the Institution, in Some States Hundreds of Vehicles Have Been Approached in 2025 for This Type of Irregularity.
Proper Installation of the Starlink Antenna in Vehicles
The PRF Clarifies That There is No Prohibition on the Use of Starlink in Vehicles, Provided That the Antenna is Installed in Locations That Do Not Interfere with Visibility.
Consulted Technicians Recommend That the Equipment Be Positioned on the Outside of the Vehicle, Such as on the Roof, Fixed to Suitable Supports, Which Tends to Improve Both Safety and Signal Reception.
Another Considered Acceptable Alternative is to Position the Antenna in Internal Rear Areas That Do Not Compromise the Use of Mirrors and the Driver’s Field of Vision.
Automotive Installation Specialists Add That It is Ideal to Avoid Improvisations and Seek Qualified Professionals, Reducing the Risk of Non-Compliance with CTB Rules and Contran Resolutions.
The PRF Reinforces in Its Educational Campaigns That Connectivity During Travel Must Respect Traffic Rules and Cannot Compromise Road Safety.
The Agency’s Recurring Guidance is to Keep the Field of Vision Clear and Ensure That Any Installed Device is Firmly Fixed and Out of the Critical Areas of the Windshield.
With the Increase in Usage of Starlink by Drivers and the Rise in Citations for Obstructed Visibility, a Relevant Debate Arises: How Do Drivers Intend to Adjust the Installation of the Equipment to Maintain Internet Access Without Violating Traffic Laws?
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