157 traffic law violators ticketed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The City Police ticketed at least 157 traffic
\nregulation violators on the first day of 1995, a year which
\npromises stricter enforcement of traffic laws on a number of
\nroads throughout the city.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters in the evening, City Police spokesman
\nLt. Col. Bambang Haryoko said that the figure was collected from
\nfour of the eight police subprecincts and a team of patrolmen.<\/p>\n
\"The other four subprecincts, namely Central Jakarta, Depok,
\nBekasi and Tangerang have yet to inform us of their outcome as
\nof 3 p.m. today,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
According to him, 45 out of the 157 violators were ticketed in
\nWest Jakarta, 34 in North Jakarta, 21 in East Jakarta and 15 in
\nSouth Jakarta and the remaining 42 were ticketed by patrolmen.<\/p>\n
\"About 40 percent of the violators are drivers of public
\ntransportation vehicles who disobeyed the closed-door policy,\"
\nBambang explained.<\/p>\n
The others included motorists using no helmets and drivers whose
\nvehicles failed to meet up to code standards, he added.<\/p>\n
Under the new law enforcement system on selected roads, locally
\ncalled Kawasan Tertib Lalu Lintas, offenders will be asked to appear
\nbefore the courts and then fined accordingly. The fine scale is
\nquite harsh for the average motorist and has a maximum fine of Rp 6
\nmillion (US$2,745).<\/p>\n
The controversial traffic law No. 14 was issued two years ago but
\nwas not enforced until yesterday. Under the new law, violators must
\nappear in court themselves. Previously, violators were punished
\naccording to a lower ticketing fine scale, ranging between Rp 10,000
\nand Rp 150,000 per case and were allowed have someone stand in for
\nthem at their trials.<\/p>\n
Jaywalkers<\/p>\n
During the first day of the enforcement yesterday, a number of
\njaywalkers, including non-Jakartans, were also netted after trying
\nto cross the streets against the traffic light.<\/p>\n
The police only issued strong warnings to the non-Jakartan
\nviolators but seized the identity cards of Jakartans.<\/p>\n
As of last evening, a total of 15 jaywalkers of Jakarta residents
\nwere netted on Jl. Thamrin and were asked to come to the City Police
\nHeadquarters on Jl. Sudirman to take back their ID cards.<\/p>\n
There has been no confirmation about the type of punishment the
\nviolators will face.<\/p>\n
A number of violators argued that they crossed the roads on the
\nsites because the pedestrian bridges and zebra crossings were too
\nfar away.<\/p>\n
\"That's why I just followed the other people to cross the street,\"
\nsaid Marsitoh, 21, an employee at the Sogo shopping center.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, only a few personnel were deployed on the selected
\nroads to enforce the new ticketing system.<\/p>\n
Among the locations with a larger police presence were the city's
\nmain roads Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.<\/p>\n
At the circle near Ratu Plaza shopping center in South Jakarta,
\nfor example, police in the morning ticketed those motorists driving
\non Jl. Sudirman who turned right on to Jl. Hang Lekir I. This action
\nis forbidden during the morning hours.<\/p>\n
\"But, how can I see such a small sign over there?\" plead one
\nflummoxed violator.<\/p>\n
A few minutes later an Army truck passed by, violating the sign,
\nbut the police could only stare at the passing green truck.<\/p>\n
\"We couldn't ticket such a vehicle. It's the task of the military
\npolice of the army to stop the driver,\" commented head of the City
\nTraffic Police Directorate Col. Soeroso.<\/p>\n
However, head of the City Military Police Col. Anwaruddin opposed
\nSoeroso's stand.<\/p>\n
\"Even the traffic police have the right to stop such a delinquent
\nArmy driver,\" he said. \"The case will be handed over later to their
\nsupervisors.\" (bsr)<\/p>",
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