Portugal intends to restore the Brigada de Trânsito, the so-called GNR Traffic Brigade, in the early months of 2027, according to a report at the end of last month in the Jornal de Notícias newspaper. This comes nearly two decades after it disappeared. The return is part of the Estratégia Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária (National Road Safety Strategy), with the aim being to strengthen road policing through a single national command structure, and more specialised enforcement.
The Brigade was dissolved in 2007 in a GNR restructuring move that passed its duties to individual territorial commands, and a return promised in 2013 never materialised. Interior Minister Luís Neves announced the new timetable during a parliamentary hearing on the 2027 State Budget. He said premises had already been found, though he did not say where, and stressed the goal of a unified national command. The Brigade is expected to start with around 1,300 personnel, roughly the number now working on traffic duties.
The strategy aims to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030, compared with 2019. It was supposed to have been approved in 2020. The Brigade is one of its three fundamental measures.
Other measures expected in 2027 include, firstly, no advance warning of police roadside checks: The minister has said there will be no more STOP operations announced beforehand, and that enforcement must be more visible and uncompromising. The aim is to increase the detection of offences and improve road safety. Sharing the location of police checks online is not currently illegal in Portugal.
Secondly: A new Highway Code, with the Government planning significant amendments to the road traffic laws, with tougher measures against speeding, dangerous driving, drink-driving, repeat offenders, and driving under the influence of drugs. A new Código da Estrada is due to be presented during 2027. The current code is around 32 years old and has accumulated dozens of amendments, one reason the Government opted for a root-and-branch rewrite. The minister has also said driving above 180 or 200km/h could become a crime rather than an administrative offence, a measure still being considered. The code is not yet in force and must go before Parliament.
Thirdly, longer time limits for fines are on the cards: The Government plans to extend the limitation period for fines, making it harder for cases to lapse before enforcement. From January, the road safety authority (ANSR) will digitise all traffic fines, ending hand-written notices. The minister stressed that drivers keep the right to challenge fines, but the system will no longer be open to appeals designed only to run out the clock.
Lastly, the Government is set to lay out a slew of stronger penalties. Harsher sanctions are planned for repeat offenders in dangerous driving, drink-driving, driving under the influence of drugs, and speeding.
Source: JN / CNN Portugal
Photo credit: JOSÉ COELHO / LUSA
