Congress Overrides Veto, Mandates Toxicology Test for First A and B Driver’s Licenses

Overview

• Lawmakers reinstated the rule with votes of 421–10 in the Chamber of Deputies and 72–0 in the Senate.
• First-time applicants in categories A and B must present a negative toxicology exam from clinics accredited by the traffic authority, with at least 90 days of retrospective analysis and 90 days of validity from sample collection.
• The test checks for a panel of substances that includes amphetamines, cannabinoids, opiates and cocaine metabolites.
• Specialized medical clinics may install toxicology sample collection posts, provided processing laboratories are accredited by the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran).
• Congress also restored electronic vehicle transfers via platforms using advanced or qualified digital signatures with nationwide acceptance under Contran rules, and overturned a veto granting Embrapa fee exemptions.