Confused about the different traffic fines in Brasília? You're not alone. You might expect a single government agency to handle all traffic violations and fines, but in Brazil, things work a bit differently. In Brasília, two specific agencies have the authority to issue fines: the Federal District Highway Department (Departamento de Estradas de Rodagem do Distrito Federal, DER-DF) and the Detran-DF (Departamento de Trânsito do Distrito Federal).
Here's how they differ:
Responsibilities: The DER-DF is primarily in charge of building, maintaining, and overseeing roads and highways in the Federal District. This includes managing road infrastructure, ensuring safety, and implementing projects to improve traffic flow. The DER-DF also takes care of highway signage, heavy vehicle regulations, and certain transport logistics.
Focus: The main focus is on the physical infrastructure of roads and highways, ensuring they are safe and well-maintained for public use.
Responsibilities: Detran-DF handles vehicle registration, driver licensing, traffic law enforcement, and educational programs related to road safety. It also oversees vehicle inspections, issues driving licenses, and enforces traffic laws, including issuing fines for violations.
Focus: Detran-DF is focused on regulating drivers and vehicles, ensuring compliance with traffic laws, and promoting road safety.
Both agencies work together to ensure the transportation system in the Federal District runs smoothly and safely.
If you receive a fine from either Detran-DF or DER-DF, both can be accessed through the Detran-DF app. This app not only stores your driver's license and registration papers but also shows any fines you've accumulated and any outstanding amounts you owe. DER-DF fines are clearly marked as DER-DF.
While you can pay your Detran-DF fines using information from the app, DER-DF fines require a different process. To pay a DER-DF fine, you must visit their website, enter your license plate and RENAVAM number, and then proceed to the payment options.
So, if you're wondering why it's easy to pay one fine and not the other, now you know the difference.