Brazil approves stricter driving and animal abandonment laws

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has approved two distinct legislative proposals aimed at tightening penalties within the Brazilian Traffic Code.

The first proposal targets drunk driving resulting in fatalities. Under the approved text, a driver responsible for an accident causing death would face a ten-year license suspension and a fine equivalent to 50 times the standard penalty for serious infractions (approximately R$ 14,673.50). For accidents resulting in permanent disability, the proposal suggests a five-year suspension and a fine 20 times the standard amount. This legislative action follows reports of rising alcohol-related fatalities, noting 13,075 deaths in 2024.

A second proposal, Bill 25/2024, addresses the abandonment of animals using vehicles or boats. Following a substitute report by Deputy Fred Costa, the Chamber approved the measure, which classifies such actions as a “very serious infraction.” Under these rules, drivers face a 12-month license suspension, increasing to 18 months if the animal is a dog or cat. Fines are set at ten times the base value for serious infractions, doubling if the abandonment leads to injury, death, or if the animal is run over.

Repeat offenders within a 24-month period face the permanent revocation of their driving license. The regulations specifically extend to those using watercraft, such as boats, jet skis, and motorboats, to abandon animals in rivers, lakes, or bays. The animal abandonment bill now moves to the Federal Senate for further analysis.