Anyone who uses vehicles to abandon animals may have their CNH suspended

The Chamber of Deputies approved the bill that establishes the suspension of the National Driver’s License (CNH) of drivers who use a motor vehicle to abandon or assist the abandonment of animals on public roads. The proposal amends the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB) to frame the practice as a very serious infraction. The text now goes to the Federal Senate for analysis.

SEE ALSO:

• Engine oil additive is a trap
• Abandoned animals are being mapped by car with AI
• Transporting animals with mandatory tracking may become law

Punishments and CNH suspension deadlines

According to the approved text, the fined driver will be subject to fines and the suspension of the right to drive, with deadlines that vary according to the species of the animal and the severity of the consequences:

• General abandonment: suspension of the CNH for 12 months (1 year).
• Abandonment of dogs or cats: suspension of the CNH for 18 months (1 year and a half).
• Aggravation for injury or death: the fine will be doubled if the animal suffers injuries, is run over or dies as a result of abandonment.
• Recidivism: the driver who commits the same infraction within a period of up to 24 months will have the driver’s license revoked.

Rules also apply to water vessels

The sanctions provided for in the project are not limited to land traffic. The matter extends the same penalties to those who use water transport, such as motorboats, boats or jet skis, to abandon animals in rivers, lakes, bays, dams or other inland waters.

In these cases, the suspension of the nautical qualification certificate will be 12 months, rising to 18 months if the infraction involves dogs or cats.

Justification and risks to road safety

The project was reported by Deputy Fred Costa (PRD-MG). In his opinion, the parliamentarian highlighted that the use of vehicles for abandonment makes it difficult to rescue, identify the person responsible and return the animal, constituting a practice of cruelty incompatible with the constitutional protection of fauna.

In addition to mistreatment, the rapporteur stressed that the practice increases the risks of accidents on the roads, endangering the safety of drivers and pedestrians.

Next steps of the proposal

With the approval in the Chamber of Deputies, the matter will be forwarded to the Federal Senate for consideration by the thematic committees and vote in the Plenary. If it is amended by the senators, it will return for a new analysis by the deputies before proceeding to presidential sanction.