City may end speed limits in high crime areas
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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Rio de Janeiro legislators voted to end enforcement of speed limits in parts of the crime-plagued city at night to try to cut down on attacks on slow-moving cars.
The city's legislative assembly passed a bill on Thursday to turn off cameras used to enforce speed limits of 40 kph (25 mph) in accident-prone points of the seaside city.
It was unclear whether Mayor Cesar Maia would approve the legislation, which is necessary for it to go into effect. He argues that most accidents occur during the night.
Many drivers already ignore traffic signals late at night for fear of being robbed or killed in a carjackings. The city has one of the world's highest murder rates.
Rio's beleaguered population, frustrated by police inefficiency, is resorting to inventive ways to fight crime.
Earlier this month the legislative assembly for the state of Rio de Janeiro proposed building high walls along some highways in the city to protect motorists from shootouts between drug gangs in some of its nearly 600 slums.
State Gov. Rosinha Matheus vetoed the bill on Tuesday, saying it would be an act of segregation against the honest majority living in the humble neighborhoods.
