Your electric scooter can indeed go over 32 km/h when you ride down a steep hill. Gravity pushes, the motor cuts off at its factory limit, but inertia keeps you rolling. Then the question arises: is that allowed or are you already breaking any rules?
The short answer: Brazilian legislation, especially CONTRAN Resolution 996/2023, requires the device to stay at a maximum of 32 km/h under any conditions—including downhills. Even if only for a few seconds, exceeding this speed can reclassify your scooter as a moped and lead to fines, impoundment, and a license requirement.
In Maringá, Municipal Law 11.981/2025 adds even stricter limits: 20 km/h on bike lanes and bike paths, 6 km/h on sidewalks and squares. This means that, in practice, most urban downhills would already put you over the permitted speed if you don't actively control it.
In this post, we explain exactly what the law says, how to avoid speeding, and why this attention became more important in 2026. Whether you ride in Maringá or any other Brazilian city, understanding this makes a difference.
Why does an electric scooter exceed 32 km/h downhill even with a speed limiter?
The scooter's motor is programmed to stop accelerating at 32 km/h, as required by CONTRAN Resolution 996/2023. But that limit applies only to the motor's power—beyond that, gravity takes over. On steep slopes, the downhill force pushes the vehicle past the motor's cut-off speed, especially if the rider doesn't apply the brakes. It's pure physics: mass + incline = speed increase.
Even scooters with the limiter activated can reach 35, 38, or even 40 km/h on long hills if you don't brake. That's why the rule doesn't just rely on the factory setting—it requires the rider to stay within the speed limits under all riding conditions. The display (speedometer) is your ally: glancing at it on descents and slowing down with the brakes is the only way to make sure you don't exceed the allowed speed.
What does the federal regulation say about 32 km/h on downhills?
CONTRAN Resolution 996/2023 defines self-propelled individual mobility equipment with a maximum power of 1,000 W and a factory top speed of 32 km/h. In January 2026, ABVE (Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association) published a column clarifying that "this limit must be respected under all riding conditions, including downhills." The entity warns that momentary speeds above 32 km/h can constitute a violation and, if power, width, or wheelbase parameters are exceeded, the vehicle automatically loses its classification as self-propelled equipment.
What's the next step? A moped: a vehicle with an electric motor up to 4 kW and a top speed of 50 km/h, which since January 1, 2026 requires registration, license plates, a driver's license (ACC category), and helmet use. Enforcement is already active, and unregistered mopeds can be fined and removed. So letting your scooter run free downhill is not only a safety risk—it can push you into the wrong category and make you bear the legal consequences.
And in Maringá? What are the local limits?
Here in the city, Municipal Law No. 11,981/2025 has been in force since August 2025 and imposes much lower limits than the federal ones: 20 km/h on bike lanes and bike paths, and 6 km/h on sidewalks, squares, and parks. Helmet use is mandatory, and the scooter must have a speedometer, bell, and nighttime lighting.
In May 2026, the Mobility Department (Semob) announced it is preparing a decree to further restrict riding on sidewalks and set fine amounts for those who disregard the limits. So in Maringá, going over 20 km/h downhill inside a bike lane is already an offense—even if the display shows 25 km/h, you'll be in violation. And