Authorities stick to their guns over traffic stickers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is determined to
\nimplement the sticker system to replace the three-in-one traffic
\nregulation as scheduled and is ready to face any possible legal
\naction resulting from it, an official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Deputy governor of administrative affairs Abdul Kahfi said the
\ndecision to apply the sticker system was legal and the system was
\naimed at improving people's prosperity.<\/p>\n
\"In what way would it inflict losses upon people? How can they
\nsue us on a system which is aimed at improving people's
\nprosperity?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
The city administration is planning to hold a trial run of the
\nsticker system, which has been endorsed by President Soeharto
\nthrough the Presidential Decree No. 50\/1998 on restricted
\ntransportation areas in the city, from August to November.<\/p>\n
The new regulations will apply from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and
\nfrom 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the period, on Jl. Jend.
\nSudirman, Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat and part of
\nJl. Jend. Gatot Subroto.<\/p>\n
Motorists will have to display valid stickers on their
\nwindshields if they wish to enter the restricted zone. Stickers
\ncan be purchased for a single entry, one day unlimited entry or
\none month unlimited entry.<\/p>\n
The system will replace the three-in-one traffic regulation,
\nintroduced in 1992 to deal with innercity congestion, which
\nstates that vehicles entering the restricted area should carry at
\nleast three passengers.<\/p>\n
The three-in-one system is considered to have been largely
\nineffective in easing traffic congestion.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso has repeatedly said the levies collected
\nfrom sticker sales would be used to improve city transportation,
\nsuch as through buying new buses.<\/p>\n
Kahfi reiterated: \"We are ready to face any legal suits as we
\nhave referred to all regulations and legislation.\"<\/p>\n
Director of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, Apong Herlina,
\ntold The Jakarta Post yesterday that the presidential decree on
\nthe sticker system was procedurally wrong because any policy on
\ncollecting levies should be first discussed with the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
\"There is a rule on the collection of funds from the public.
\nThe decision to implement the system through the decree shows a
\none-sidedness,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said all levy collections should be in the form of a law
\napproved by the House.<\/p>\n
\"So, the decree should be scrapped for the sake of the law,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Apong said the administration's intention to use the levies to
\nimprove city transportation fleets was a good idea, but \"don't
\napply any ways to reach the goal\".<\/p>\n
She said, people had the right to question or object to the
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
\"People can sue the President, who enacted the decree, and the
\ncity administration. It could be through a class action
\nmechanism,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of City Council Commission D for
\ndevelopment affairs, Ali Wongso Sinaga, said the decree did not
\nviolate any existing regulations, including the 1980 Law No. 13
\non roads and the 1992 Law No. 14 on transportation.<\/p>\n
\"Even though the two laws do not explicitly mention other
\nroads, besides toll roads, where levies can be collected, that
\ndoesn't mean that collections on roads other than toll roads is
\nprohibited\", he said.<\/p>\n
Ali said levy collections in the sticker system was supported
\nby Article 13 of the 1990 Government Regulation No. 22. It states
\nthat all forms of levy collections on traffic and transportation
\nwhich fall under the city administration's authority were
\nestablished and legalized in a city bylaw.<\/p>\n
The council is now waiting for the administration to deliver
\nthe draft on the bylaw for the sticker system.<\/p>\n
He said if there were still too many problems, then the
\nadministration should delay the trial run until everything was
\nready. (ind\/cst)<\/p>",
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