Brazil's Senate is analyzing Bill 5.593/2019, which creates national rules for electric scooters and other self-propelled devices, including them in the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB). If approved, you'll have rights and duties similar to those of a cyclist — but with specific limits.

In Maringá, Municipal Law 11.981/2025 already regulates circulation. Now, the bill aims to standardize this nationwide. In this guide, I explain what's already law today, what could change, and how you can avoid fines.

What Bill 5.593/2019 proposes in practice

The text, authored by Senator Daniella Ribeiro (PP-PB), is moving through the Senate and was reviewed by the Regional Development and Tourism Commission (CDR) on May 25 and 26, 2026. The rapporteur, Senator Efraim Filho, suggested raising the speed limit to 40 km/h for roads where scooters can ride on the edge of the lane.

If it becomes law, the electric scooter will be treated as individual mobility equipment — something between a pedestrian and a bicycle. This creates legal certainty for daily users.

Speed limits: 6 km/h, 20 km/h, and 40 km/h

The bill defines three scenarios, very similar to what Maringá already adopts:

  • 6 km/h on sidewalks, squares, and parks (areas shared with pedestrians);
  • 20 km/h on bike lanes and cycle tracks;
  • Up to the road's 40 km/h limit to ride on the edge of the lane, in the same direction as cars — the rapporteur proposed this ceiling to replace the original 30 km/h.

On fast roads or those with higher limits, riding is prohibited. In Maringá, the local rule already follows this logic with a municipal limit of 40 km/h on shared roads.

Required equipment and prohibitions

The bill requires every scooter to have:

  • Bell;
  • Night signaling lights;
  • Speed indicator.

It also prohibits carrying a passenger on the scooter, riding on fast roads, or driving aggressively. Cars, on the other hand, must maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters when overtaking — the same rule already in place for bicycles.

This means the scooter isn't a toy: it's a vehicle with duties, and enforcement is getting stricter across Brazil.

What's already law today: CONTRAN 996/2023

Today, the current federal rule is CONTRAN Resolution No. 996/2023, which defines the electric scooter as low-speed mobility equipment with a technical limit of 32 km/h.

Under this resolution, no driver's license (CNH) is required for scooters — only a minimum age of 16 to ride unaccompanied. But it doesn't detail circulation rules like the bill does. That's why Bill 5.593/2019 is so important: it fills the gaps in the CTB.

In 2026, enforcement intensified in city halls after the definitive CONTRAN rules took effect, and many users still don't know the requirements — as reported by Estado de Minas in June 2026.

And the confusion in Rio de Janeiro?

In April 2026, Rio de Janeiro issued a decree equating self-propelled devices with seats to mopeds, requiring a category A driver's license and license plates. The government was challenged in court for conflicting with the federal rule (CONTRAN 996).

In Rio, enforcement starts educational, with fines only planned for 2027. This case shows that without a clear national law, each municipality can create conflicting rules. The bill in the Senate resolves this.

In Maringá, the situation is calmer: the local law already follows the spirit of CONTRAN and the bill, with objective limits and required equipment.

What you need to do now

Regardless of the bill's approval, you should already:

  • Wear a helmet (mandatory in Maringá and in the federal bill);
  • Install a bell, lights, and speed indicator;
  • Respect the 6 km/h limit on sidewalks and 20 km/h on bike lanes.