Federal Highway Police (Brazil)

Federal Highway Police
Polícia Rodoviária Federal
AbbreviationPRF
Agency overview
FormedJuly 24, 1928
Employees11,157 officers as of 20 June 2015 [1]
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyBrazil
Operations jurisdictionBrazil
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersSPO, QUADRA 3, LOTE 5, Brasília, Brazil
Agency executive
  • Antônio Fernando Souza Oliveira[2], Diretor Geral
Major units
2
  • Division of Airborne Operations (DOA)
  • National Highway Police Academy (ANPR)
Website
www.prf.gov.br

The Brazilian Federal Highway Police (Polícia Rodoviária Federal or PRF) is a federal highway patrol, subordinate to the Ministry of Justice, whose main function is fighting crime on Brazilian federal roads and highways, as well as monitoring and supervising vehicular traffic, although it has also taken on duties that go beyond its original authority, such as action within Brazilian cities and forests in conjunction with other public safety agencies.

It was subordinate to the old National Department of Roadways (Departamento Nacional de Estradas de Rodagem or DNER), now the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Departamento Nacional de Infra-Estrutura de Transportes or DNIT), until the publication of Law 8,028 of 12 April 1990, which redefined the structure of the Brazilian executive branch.

Its competences are defined by article 144 of the Federal Constitution[3] and by Law 9,503 (Brazilian Traffic Code),[4] by Decree 1655 of 3 October 1995[5] and by its internal regulation, approved by Ministerial Decree 1,375 of 2 August 2007.

The title patrolman given to the members was abolished in 1998, replaced by the title policewoman/-man. Members of the PRF are divided into four classes: Third, Second, First and Special.

Since 2009,[6] entry into the PRF has required a university education degree recognized by the Ministry of Education. Condition now described in Law 9,654.[7]

  1. ^ "Portal Da Transparência - Servidores Civis E Militares Do Poder Executivo Federal - Por Órgão De Lotação Do Servidor". Portaltransparencia.gov.br. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  2. ^ https://www.gov.br/prf/pt-br/composicao/direcao-geral [bare URL]
  3. ^ "Constituicao-Compilado". Planalto.gov.br. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  4. ^ "L9503Compilado". Planalto.gov.br. 1997-09-24. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  5. ^ "D1655". Planalto.gov.br. 1995-10-04. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2015-06-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "L9654". Planalto.gov.br. Retrieved 2017-10-17.