Brazil sees rise in dry‑law refusals and traffic fines

A Senatran study shows Brazil averages 23 dry‑law fines per hour, with 1.26 million penalties issued to drivers proven to be under the influence and 2.45 million for refusing the breath test. Refusals increased 10 % in 2025 compared with 2024, while overall fines for drivers who submit to the test fell. The report notes that February and December—Carnival and year‑end celebrations—record the highest numbers of infractions, and that most offenders are men around 39 years old.

In a related incident in Faxinal, a driver who was caught speeding and swerving in the early‑morning hours on 21 June 2026 refused the breath‑alyzer test. Police classified the refusal as a grave traffic violation, issued an infraction notice and had the vehicle towed for further administrative processing.