# Law No. 6174 of December 9, 1974 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105660023](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105660023) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6174-of-december-9-1974 ## Summary Law No. 6174 of December 9, 1974 (Lei nº 6174/1974) is a Brazilian statute enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil during the military government period. Promulgated by President Ernesto Geisel on December 9, 1974, in Brasília, this law constitutes a formal written legal document that creates law within the Brazilian legal system. The statute addresses matters related to motor vehicles (veículos automotores), regulation (regulamentação), legal provisions (dispositivos), competency (competência), changes to existing law (alteração), and practical application (aplicação). ## Key Facts - **Official Title:** Lei nº 6174, de 9 de dezembro de 1974 - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6174/1974 - **Country of Origin:** Brazil - **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (applies to jurisdiction) - **Place of Publication:** Brasília - **Publication Date:** December 9, 1974 - **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil - **Promulgated By:** Ernesto Geisel (President of Brazil, 1974-1979) - **Date of Promulgation:** December 9, 1974 - **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written document that creates law) - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1974-12-09;6174 - **Official Source URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6174.htm - **Main Subjects:** Regulamentation (Regulamentação), Device/Legal Provisions (Dispositivos), Change (Alteração), Competency (Competência), Motor Vehicle (Veículo Automotor), Use/Application (Aplicação) - **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law - **Wikimedia Project:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws (on focus list) ## FAQs **What type of legal document is Law No. 6174/1974?** Law No. 6174 of December 9, 1974 is a statute—a formal written document that creates law within the Brazilian legal system. It is classified as an instance of "statute" and serves as a manifestation of statutory law in Brazil, functioning as the official record of legal rules enacted by the Brazilian government authority. **Who enacted Law No. 6174/1974?** The law was promulgated by President Ernesto Geisel, who served as President of Brazil from 1974 to 1979. The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and represents a legal act enacted during Brazil's military government period. **What subject matter does Law No. 6174/1974 regulate?** According to its main subjects, the law addresses multiple interconnected legal topics: regulation (regulamentação), legal provisions or devices (dispositivos), amendments or changes to existing law (alteração), jurisdictional competency (competência), motor vehicles (veículo automotor), and practical application (aplicação). The law appears to establish rules governing the use, regulation, and legal framework surrounding motor vehicles in Brazil. **Where can Law No. 6174/1974 be accessed?** The official text of Law No. 6174/1974 is available through the Brazilian federal government website at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6174.htm. The law is also catalogued in Brazilian legal databases with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1974-12-09;6174. **What is the legal classification of this law?** Law No. 6174/1974 is classified as a statute—a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule" within legal taxonomy. It is equivalent to the schema.org Legislation class and represents a formal expression of legal norms within the Brazilian legal system. The law was created through the legislative process and resulted in statutory law. ## Why It Matters Law No. 6174 of December 9, 1974 matters because it represents an official exercise of governmental authority in Brazil during a significant historical period. Enacted during the military government era under President Ernesto Geisel, this statute contributes to the body of Brazilian statutory law that governs various aspects of motor vehicle regulation, legal competency, and administrative procedures. As a statute, this law serves as the tangible, written evidence of legal rules that citizens, courts, and administrators must follow. The law's focus on motor vehicles (veículos automotores) reflects the growing importance of automotive transportation in Brazil during the 1970s—a period of significant economic development and urbanization in the country. The establishment of clear legal frameworks for motor vehicle use, regulation, and competency was essential for organizing Brazil's rapidly expanding transportation infrastructure. The law's inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws demonstrates its continued relevance within the Brazilian legal system and ensures it remains accessible and documented for legal research, academic study, and public reference. Statutes like Law No. 6174/1974 form the foundation of statutory law in Brazil, distinguishing between the abstract concept of "law" and the concrete written documents that actually create legal obligations and rights. Furthermore, as a public domain legal document in Brazil, this statute ensures that the regulatory framework governing motor vehicles is freely accessible to the public, reinforcing principles of transparency and the rule of law. The law's detailed provisions regarding regulation, legal devices, competency, and application provide the legal infrastructure necessary for the orderly functioning of motor vehicle-related activities in Brazil. ## Notable For - **Historical Significance:** Enacted during Brazil's military government period (1964-1985), representing a key moment in Brazilian legal and political history - **Presidential Authority:** Promulgated directly by President Ernesto Geisel, demonstrating the executive branch's lawmaking authority during this era - **Motor Vehicle Focus:** Specifically addresses regulations surrounding veículos automotores (motor vehicles), reflecting Brazil's mid-20th century automotive development - **Legal Classification:** Classified as a statute—the formal written document that creates law—distinguishing it from abstract legal concepts - **Official Documentation:** Maintains official government publication status with verified source URLs and legal identifiers - **Continued Relevance:** Included in WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating ongoing legal significance and scholarly interest - **Comprehensive Subject Coverage:** Addresses six distinct legal subject areas: regulation, legal provisions, amendments, competency, motor vehicles, and application ## Body ### Historical and Political Context Law No. 6174 of December 9, 1974 was enacted during Brazil's military government period, a era that began with the 1964 coup and lasted until 1985. President Ernesto Geisel, who promulgated this law, served as President of Brazil from March 15, 1974, to March 15, 1979. His administration represented the fourth military president following the coup, and his government oversaw significant economic growth alongside continued authoritarian governance. The year 1974 marked an important transition in Brazilian history. Geisel's presidency began in 1974, and his government would later initiate a gradual political opening process known as distensão. The law was promulgated in Brasília, which had been the capital of Brazil since 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro. The choice of Brasília as the place of publication reflects the centralized nature of federal lawmaking during this period. ### Legal Classification and Framework Law No. 6174/1974 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. This classification places it within the broader category of legal instruments that include acts, executive orders, and by-laws. In the Brazilian legal system, statutes represent the written expression of legal rules enacted by governmental authority, distinct from other legal sources such as case law or administrative regulations. The law's instance as a statute means it functions as a manifestation of statutory law in Brazil. It represents the concrete, written evidence of legal rules rather than abstract legal theories. As a statute, it carries the force of law and is binding upon citizens, businesses, and government entities within its scope of application. The law's relationship to other legal concepts includes: - It follows "draft laws" in the legislative process - It is caused by "legislation" or a "legal act" - It results in "statutory law" - It contains "legal norms" as part of its structure ### Subject Matter and Content Law No. 6174/1974 addresses multiple interconnected legal subjects, as identified by its main subject classifications: **Regulamentação (Regulation):** The law establishes regulatory frameworks, likely setting out the rules and procedures governing specific activities or sectors, particularly as they relate to motor vehicles. **Dispositivos (Legal Provisions/Devices):** The law contains specific legal articles or provisions that establish rights, obligations, procedures, or organizational structures within the Brazilian legal system. **Alteração (Change):** The law may amend, modify, or update existing legal provisions, potentially revising previous statutes or regulations to reflect new policy objectives or practical requirements. **Competência (Competency):** The law addresses jurisdictional authority, determining which governmental bodies or officials have the power to make decisions, enforce rules, or administer specific legal matters. **Veículo Automotor (Motor Vehicle):** A central focus of the law involves motor vehicles—automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and other automotive transportation modes. This subject reflects the growing importance of automotive transportation in Brazilian society during the 1970s. **Aplicação (Use/Application):** The law governs the practical application of legal rules, likely establishing procedures for how regulations should be implemented, enforced, or followed in practice. ### Official Publication and Access The law was officially published in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, on December 9, 1974. Official publication in the capital city is standard procedure for federal statutes in Brazil, ensuring centralized documentation and public notice. The official text of Law No. 6174/1974 is available at: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6174.htm This URL is maintained by the Brazilian federal government through the Palácio do Planalto, the official workplace of the President of Brazil. The website provides access to Brazil's federal legislation, ensuring public access to legal texts. The law is catalogued with the following identifiers: - **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1974-12-09;6174 - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6174/1974 ### Relationship to Brazilian Legal System Law No. 6174/1974 operates within the Brazilian legal system, which is based on civil law traditions derived from Portuguese law. As a federal statute, it applies throughout Brazil and takes precedence over state and municipal laws that may conflict with its provisions. The law's applicability to Brazil as a jurisdiction means it establishes legal rules that are binding throughout the national territory. As a statute enacted by the federal government, it represents the exercise of federal legislative authority in areas reserved for federal lawmaking or where federal action is otherwise authorized. The law was created through the legislative process, following the drafting of proposed legislation and its subsequent approval by the executive branch through presidential promulgation. This process reflects the standard procedure for creating statutes in Brazil's presidential system of government. ### Language and Documentation Law No. 6174/1974 was enacted in Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting the official language of Brazil and the linguistic requirements for legal documents within the Brazilian legal system. The use of Portuguese ensures that the law is accessible to Brazilian citizens, legal professionals, and government officials. The law is documented in multiple legal databases and cataloguing systems, ensuring its preservation and accessibility for legal research and reference. Its inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws demonstrates ongoing efforts to document and make accessible Brazil's extensive body of statutory law. ### Significance for Motor Vehicle Regulation The law's focus on motor vehicles (veículos automotores) reflects the significant role that automotive transportation played in Brazil's development during the mid-20th century. By the 1970s, Brazil had established a growing automotive industry and an expanding road network, necessitating comprehensive legal frameworks to govern vehicle use, registration, safety, and administration. Statutes like Law No. 6174/1974 provide the legal foundation for: - Vehicle registration and licensing requirements - Traffic rules and regulations - Driver certification and testing - Vehicle safety standards - Administrative procedures for motor vehicle authorities The law's provisions regarding competency (competência) likely establish which governmental agencies have authority over different aspects of motor vehicle regulation, creating a clear organizational structure for automotive governance. ### Continued Relevance and Preservation Despite being enacted in 1974, Law No. 6174/1974 remains part of Brazil's active legal framework. Federal statutes in Brazil do not automatically expire and remain in force until explicitly repealed or amended. The law may have been amended multiple times since its enactment, reflecting the dynamic nature of Brazilian statutory law. Its inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws indicates that the statute continues to be relevant for legal researchers, practitioners, and scholars studying Brazilian law. This Wikimedia project works to document and organize information about Brazilian legislation, ensuring that important legal texts remain accessible and accurately described. The law's preservation in official government databases and its continued availability through official government websites demonstrates Brazil's commitment to maintaining public access to its statutory law. This accessibility supports the principle of legal certainty, allowing citizens and businesses to understand their rights and obligations under the law. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1974-12-09;6174) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6174&ano=1974&data=09/12/1974&ato=828Izaq5kenRVTd65)