Brazilian authorities fine bus firms and order service overhaul after safety and accessibility violations

In Ceará, the State Consumer Protection Program (Decon) of the Public Ministry fined three intercity bus operators at Fortaleza’s Messejana terminal during the “Operação Férias”. Companies São Benedito, Guanabara and Princesa were cited for missing mandatory passenger information, failure to provide accessible vehicles, lack of preferential seating, and absence of a consumer complaints book or valid fire‑department compliance certificate. They have 20 days to present a defence.

In Maranhão, the 2nd Public Treasury Court ordered the municipal government of Imperatriz and the concessionaire Rio Anil Transporte to regularize urban bus service and imposed a collective moral‑damage penalty of R$1 million. Inspectors documented widespread infractions such as buses without disability access, poor maintenance, expired safety equipment, over‑crowding and non‑compliant routes. The ruling follows a civil‑public action by the State Public Prosecutor’s Office and the public defender.