Court allows suspension of the Blue Area in Americana, but maintains injunction until decision becomes definitive

Court allows suspension of the Blue Area in Americana, but maintains injunction The Court of Americana (SP) denied this Wednesday (12) a request made by Estapar, the concessionaire responsible for the Blue Area in the city, and allowed the rotating parking service to be suspended while an investigation into an alleged irregularity in vehicle inspection is ongoing. However, the company will be able to appeal while still operating the Blue Area. If Estapar is unable to reverse the decision in higher courts, the suspension will be applied after the final and unappealable decision — when the decision becomes definitive, with no possibility of appeal. The bond is valid until 2028. The investigation, conducted by the Court through another process, is motivated by the alleged use of a car in inspection, which is prohibited by contract. While the impasse remains, the city center has been empty and users have reported possible abusive charges. ? Join the g1 Campinas channel on WhatsApp In a statement, Estapar said that it will not comment on the issue, considering that there is an ongoing legal demand related to the concession contract. Complaint that went viral and investigation Alleged Volkswagen Polo from Estapar inspected cars from the Blue Area in Americana Reproduction The first complaint about the irregularity in inspection went viral on social media in June 2025. A man filmed a Volkswagen Polo equipped with cameras, which was supposedly from Estapar, parked on a street in the Center. In the images, upon realizing that the complainant was recording a video, the driver of the vehicle fled the scene. Even so, the man pursues and says that the car "is to catch the people of Americana". The repercussion motivated the city hall to create a commission to investigate the case. This group, made up of representatives from the administration and parliamentarians, concluded that the Polo was being used to inspect cars parked in the Blue Area that had not paid the fare. The outcome of the investigation was reinforced by a report from the Municipal Guard of Americana (Gama), which shows the routes of the vehicle equipped with cameras at times and locations coinciding with the release of Post-Use Fees (TPUs). ? What is TPU? It is a notification placed on the car's windshield and applied to the driver who parked in a space in the Blue Area and did not pay the fare. The regular rate varies from R$1.35 to R$10.70 for passenger vehicles and from R$0.55 to R$4.30 for motorcycles, depending on the parking time purchased. The TPU costs R$25, which can be paid in up to 72 hours. If the fee is not paid, it becomes a fine of R$195.23 and five points on the National Driving License (CNH). The use of the car would have given rise to a high number of charges levied against users. Since 2023, use has been prohibited by contract, which only allows inspection by "human inspectors". Suspension and legal dispute Impasse in the Blue Area in Americana turns into a legal dispute and generates an empty center and complaints Due to what was found by the commission, the city hall announced, in December 2025, the suspension of the contract with Estapar. An action was also filed for early production of evidence. The intention is for experts to analyze the company's equipment and computers to confirm the alleged irregularity and support a unilateral breach. The examinations took place this Monday (10), but reports on the surveys are still being carried out. In January 2026, Estapar filed another lawsuit and obtained an injunction to overturn the suspension of the contract and, consequently, continue operating the service. Still in this legal action, Estapar requested, on the merits, the definitive overturn of the suspension announced by the municipality. Decision allows suspension of the Azul Area Service has caused complaints in Americana Reproduction/EPTV In a decision published this Wednesday, judge Willi Lucarelli, of the 2nd Civil Court of Americana, rejected the request made by the concessionaire and allowed the City Hall to suspend the rotating parking service while the investigation into the alleged irregularity in vehicle inspection is ongoing. According to Lucarelli, the municipality's decision has "no illegality or abuse of power, representing a regular and legitimate exercise of the general power of caution inherent to the public administration in supervising services." "Between allowing the maintenance of a delegated service under an illegal inspection method with potential daily damage to the property of local drivers and determining its temporary suspension until the action of early production of evidence concludes the expertise in the computer systems, the mayor acted strictly within the parameters of reasonableness and the supremacy of the public interest", he considered. Although he allowed the suspension of the contract, the judge granted Estapar the right to appeal by operating the Blue Area. If the concessionaire is unable to reverse the decision in higher courts, the suspension will be applied after the final judgment. Empty center and complaints Impasse in the Azul Area in Americana turns into a legal dispute In March of this year, EPTV, an affiliated broadcaster of TV Globo, showed that the city center has suffered from empty spaces and low traffic while the impasse is not resolved. Users, consumers and traders have also complained about abusive charges. At the time, unemployed Renata Azenha David said that she parked her car in a space to pick up an object from a store and, when she returned to the vehicle within the tolerance period, she realized that she had been notified. "I think it's a bit of a shame. They put an end to the Centro de Americana. This turnover that they keep with the cart hidden, they actually fine them. What happens to the population? They're afraid to come to the Center", he said. Population blames Blue Area for the low movement of Centro de Americana Reproduction/EPTV VIDEOS: everything about Campinas and the region See more news here