agencies all over the country. The .38 caliber revolvers, somewhat less powerful and less capacious, were retired by the Federal Highway Police. Anti-crime operations As the road is the main method of transport for merchandise, valuables, and people in Brazil, the PRF specializes in innumerable anti-crime activities, many times specific to the peculiarities of the region. In border regions, emphasis is given to fighting against contraband and drug trafficking (with the aid of police dogs); the North Region is characterized by repression of environmental crimes, such as the extraction and transport of natural resources prohibited by law; and in the Northeast Region the PRF concentrates on fighting against marijuana trafficking and trafficking of minors. All over the country, the PRF carries out searches for fugitives and criminals wanted who may be traveling on federal highways, recovery of stolen vehicles, as well as specific operations against the robbery of vehicles with valuable cargo and passenger buses. Following their crime fighting vocation, the PRF now not only restricts itself to crimes on federal highways. Recently a series of operations - some of which were carried out in conjunction with other federal agencies - reinforce the new position of the agency, acting ostensibly as a federal police force: Operação Carta Branca (against fraud in the issuing of licenses), Operação Paracelso (against the fuel mafia), Operação Seringueira, Operação Velozes e Furiosos, etc. Hundreds of search and arrest warrants were carried out all over the country. Emergency aid services The Federal Highway Police possesses, in some states, an agreement with the Mobile Emergency Assistance Service (Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência or SAMU) and makes available some vehicles and aircraft to aid accident victims. Police officers trained in emergency services work in collaboration with doctors and nurses. In other states, the PRF has an agreement with the Corpo de Bombeiros (firefighters) and provides aid services in conjunction with them. Traffic patrol The PRF has the exclusive function of applying the Brazilian Traffic Code (Law 9,503 of 1997) on federal highways. Traffic patrol is carried out in a simple and conventional manner by way of infraction notification forms and in more complex ways, using specialized equipment, such as speed radar, breathalyzers, and other measuring equipment such as scales. After the time periods mandated by law, the notifications generate punishments, in most cases in the form of fines. The main objective of traffic patrol is the prevention