Fortune in fines: Brazilian police say man amasses $259,000 in traffic fines, penalties

Man in Brazil amasses $259K in traffic fines

SAO PAULO — Police in Brazil say they have caught an Italian man who managed to amass $259,000 in traffic fines and other penalties linked to his van.

Police say they arrested 62-year-old engineer Roberto Cintio at his office after a 10-day investigation.

Most of Cintio’s fines were for speeding, which are levied in Brazilian cities by radar cameras without a police stop of the vehicle. Other fines were for parking, not paying vehicle property taxes and other infractions.

A police statement issued Tuesday says Cintio likely evaded police by using false IDs. It says several blank identification cards were found with him.

There was no indication how long it took Cintio to build up the fines on his 9-year-old General Motors van.