Carrying bladed weapons in Rio de Janeiro: how is it defined by law?

Rio de Janeiro has always been known for its beautiful beaches and lively lifestyle, with samba and lots of fun. Unfortunately, however, this is not the only reason Rio has become famous in recent years.

Violence is frequent and one of the characteristics of the state's popularity. Movies with favelas, although fictional, only portray reality. Therefore, there is an even greater and more controversial discussion when it comes to the carrying of bladed weapons in Rio de Janeiro.

On one side are those who advocate carrying them to somehow protect themselves from robberies; on the other are those who disagree. Of course, there is a law that regulates this issue, and that's what we're going to talk about in today's post. Check it out!

What does the law state?

In 2015, Rio's deputies voted on a bill that prohibited the possession of bladed weapons, specifically cutting and piercing ones, to try to reduce the number of robberies in the state.

Subsequently, Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão sanctioned law 7.031/2015, which prohibits the carrying of bladed weapons in Rio de Janeiro, under penalty of a fine for anyone caught with an item that falls within what was determined.

However, there was a movement of people who opposed this decision, causing the issue to be discussed again.

The fine for being caught with a bladed weapon in Rio today ranges from 2,400 to 24,000 reais. However, there are some exceptions, as there are people who need to carry blades among their work belongings.

So, grill masters or chefs who often carry blades from one place to another will not be fined because it is possible to prove that professional knives are used for work.

In this case, we are talking about the permission to carry a bladed weapon when it is a tool for work, as is the case with barbecue or kitchen knives.

This happens because the law emphasizes that:

1º “A bladed weapon is understood as any instrument made of a blade of any cutting material, such as swords, daggers, slingshots, and poniards, and instruments that can eventually be used as weapons, such as razors, harpoons, arrows, knuckle dusters, syringes with hypodermic needles, martial arts instruments or other similar instruments capable of causing harm to the health or physical integrity of another.”

2º “Excluded from the prohibition in the main clause are bladed weapons used by professionals, athletes, hunters, fishermen and other activities and situations that justify their use.”

Thus, it is understood that there are loopholes that allow carrying a blade. But it is important to know the laws that deal with the matter.

It is also necessary to understand the interpretations made by military police officers. The rule is to catch those who carry cutting objects to commit a crime, that is, to rob or intentionally injure people.

What types of blades are prohibited in Rio de Janeiro?

There is a specification about which blades are prohibited and which may have flexibility.

The options that are defined by law for carrying in the state of Rio de Janeiro are those with a size smaller than 10 cm.

It is noticed that some models of penknives with smaller blades are allowed. But, even so, it is possible that the bearer of this instrument may be subjected to evaluation by a police officer, who will have the freedom to interpret the purpose and intentions of the individual carrying the item.

In Brazil, there is a law that prohibits cutting or piercing artifacts usually intended for offensive action, under penalty of imprisonment. However, as there is not enough legal force here for someone to be arrested, the Rio government decided to apply fines throughout the state for anyone with this type of weapon.

As we were saying earlier, the rule makes an exception for those who use these blades as a means of work. For example, you cannot fine a coconut water vendor on the beach if he is using a machete to open the fruit. After all, that is his source of income.

The same applies to other professionals, such as fishermen, butchers, grill masters, and other services that require the use of a sharp blade to perform their activities.

If you live in Rio de Janeiro, always pay attention to these issues. But if you need knives, machetes, or penknives for work, don't worry, as the law will not harm your livelihood.

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