Driver Caught with 21-Year-Expired License

On the morning of Wednesday, December 24, the Federal Highway Police (PRF) apprehended a driver in Abreu e Lima, located in the Greater Recife area. The 51-year-old motorist was stopped during a routine inspection as part of the Operation Rodovida Natal. During the stop, officers discovered that the driver's Carteira Nacional de Habilitação (CNH) had been expired for 21 years, dating back to 2004.

Beyond the driver's licensing issues, the vehicle itself was found to be non-compliant with regulations. The pickup truck was carrying a load of iron bars and had not undergone mandatory licensing since 2020, resulting in a five-year delay. The incident occurred on BR-101 at kilometer 49. The PRF issued two citations for gravíssimas infractions, imposing fines totaling R$ 293.47. Consequently, the vehicle was seized and towed to the PRF impound facility in the Guabiraba neighborhood of Recife to await regularization.

The interception took place during a specific enforcement action known as Operation Rodovida Natal. This operation is typically conducted by the PRF during the holiday season to ensure road safety and verify driver compliance. The specific location of the stop was on the BR-101 highway, precisely at kilometer 49 within the municipality of Abreu e Lima.

Upon approaching the vehicle, officers initiated a standard check of the driver's documents and the vehicle's registration. The driver, identified only as a 51-year-old man, presented documentation that revealed significant irregularities. The PRF confirmed that the driver had failed to renew his driving license for over two decades. The vehicle being operated was a pickup truck which was found to be transporting vergalhões de ferro (iron bars).

The investigation of the driver's paperwork revealed a severe lack of compliance. The Carteira Nacional de Habilitação (CNH) had expired in 2004, meaning it had been invalid for 21 years at the time of the stop. This is a major violation of Brazilian traffic laws, as operating a vehicle without a valid license poses a significant risk to public safety.

In addition to the driver's license status, the vehicle's documentation was also found to be in order. The PRF verification showed that the last licensing of the pickup truck occurred in 2020. This means the vehicle had been operating on public roads for five years without the required annual registration. These two findings—the expired license and the lapsed vehicle registration—triggered immediate legal action by the officers present.

The PRF team took strict administrative measures following the discovery of the infractions. They issued autuações (citations) for two specific violations: driving with a CNH expired for more than 30 days and operating a vehicle with delayed licensing. According to the PRF, both of these offenses are classified as gravíssimas (very serious) under the Brazilian Traffic Code.

The financial penalty for these combined infractions amounted to R$ 293.47. However, the consequences extended beyond monetary fines. The PRF announced via a press note that the pickup truck was immediately seized. The vehicle was transported to the PRF impound lot located in the Guabiraba neighborhood, in the North Zone of Recife. The vehicle will remain there until the driver resolves the documentation issues and brings the vehicle into compliance with traffic regulations.

The Federal Highway Police released an official statement regarding the incident to clarify the actions taken and the specific violations recorded. The statement detailed the sequence of events that led to the seizure of the vehicle and the issuance of the fines. The PRF emphasized that the driver was stopped during a fiscalization action and that the documentation check revealed the long-standing expiration of his license and the vehicle's registration.

The official quote from the PRF regarding the outcome of the stop was definitive. The police force stated: "The team issued citations for driving with a CNH expired for more than 30 days and for delayed licensing. Both are very serious infractions, in the amount of R$ 293.47. The pickup truck was taken to the yard [located in the Guabiraba neighborhood, in the North Zone of Recife] for regularization." This statement confirms that the vehicle is currently held by authorities until the owner completes the necessary legal procedures to make the vehicle street legal again.