Smile, You Are on Rio’s Camera!
The Joke Is on You
If you own a car in the state of Rio de Janeiro, it is mandatory that you submit your car for an annual inspection. If the inspection is successful, you get an updated car document, valid for the whole year. Then, the traffic department authorizes you to be on the street.
The idea behind this is to allow only cars in acceptable conditions to circulate in the city. The inspectors review these main items:
- Lights
- Tyres and tyre changing tools
- Gas emissions
As with other things in Rio, the idea is good, but the execution could be better. I understand that brand new cars should only go through the inspection after three years. Maybe even five. That’s a discussion for another time.
They also check something else: the fire extinguisher. The star of this article.
The Fire Extinguisher
Since the 70’s, it is mandatory to have this security equipment in your car. If you don’t have it, or it is expired, you are fined. Originally, the BC-type fire extinguisher was mandatory.
In 2014, it was announced that drivers had to replace their extinguishers for the ABC-type. The difference being that the ABC-type is more efficient for putting out fires fueled by the materials in the seats.
Please watch this amazing video of a demonstration on live TV of the very efficient ABC model.
The deadline had to be shifted a few times, because there was not enough offer in the market. Factories could not handle the demand. Prices skyrocketed.
The final deadline was set to October 1st, 2015.
Thousands spent money replacing their equipment, and then…
Smile!
A couple weeks before the final deadline, this happened (link in Portuguese):
http://g1.globo.com/carros/noticia/2015/09/extintor-em-carro-deixara-de-ser-obrigatorio.html
Basically, fire extinguishers OF ANY KIND are no longer mandatory in cars.
The joke is on you.
Conspiracy?
In the late 90’s, something similar happened. It was announced that every car should have a First Aid Kit. It was the law. You would be fined if you didn’t have it.
People ran to the stores to buy kits that contained all the items required by the regulation. The stores were already stocked to serve the population. Everybody bought one.
However, this is one of those cases where the law has not gained momentum. Police don’t check it, annual inspections don’t check it, nobody has the kits in their cars anymore.
It was said back then that the company that produced and already distributed the kits to the stores prior to the announcement belonged to some politician. Huge profits there. This is, as far as I know, a conspiracy theory only. In Brazil, though, you never know.
Now, with the fire extinguishers, it is very likely that someone made a huge profit from this joke of a regulation, which was taken back even before the deadline was reached.
Understanding Brazil
Police never checks if you have an extinguisher or if you have an expired one. They are usually only interested if you have valid documents and licenses. Because of that, extinguishers are only a concern for the annual inspection.
For this reason, I heard of people who borrowed an ABC extinguisher from friends, and used it to pass the inspection. After the inspection, they put back their old BC extinguishers and life went on.
There is also another business model: you take your car to the inspection yard. Before you enter, there is a person with a bunch of extinguishers. You rent a valid one from the person. You go through the inspection. Your car is approved. When you leave, you return the extinguisher.
This “Brazilian Way” is often criticized. “If people remain being corrupt on their daily affairs, Brazil will never improve”. I have said that myself many times. I still believe that honesty and integrity starts with each and every one of us.
However, I tend to ask “Why?”. Why do people do such things to fool the system? Are they stealing from the State and from society? Are they corrupt? Is it only a matter of education and culture?
This scenario is one that explains the reason. Why people act like they do. They are being ACTIVELY mocked and humiliated by the State. We are used to being messed up by the Government through lack of action. In this instance, though, the rulers are taking direct action to make a fool of everyone.
By experience, car owners will not meet justice through Brazilian law. The money and time wasted trying to find an ABC extinguisher and follow the law is wasted.
Therefore, people find ways to seek justice and fairness in any way possible. “They try to fool me every single day. I will do the same whenever I have the chance”. That is the mentality.
I don’t agree, but I understand.
