City intensifies policing operation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): From a distance, a couple of tourists thought
\nsomething interesting was going on at the National Monument.<\/p>\n
They asked the driver of their bajaj (three-wheel motorized
\nvehicle) to stop so they could have a look.<\/p>\n
However, a few men in dressed in brown approached the driver,
\nDurmad, and fined him Rp 18,500 -- his earnings for the day --
\nfor stopping in a prohibited zone.<\/p>\n
\"If I don't pay the fine, (the officials) will impound my
\nbajaj,\" he said, as his passengers watched in amazement.<\/p>\n
The attraction sought by the tourists turned out to be an on-
\nsite court for the Central Jakarta mayoralty's routine operasi
\nyustisi (justice operation).<\/p>\n
Durmad was fined Rp 20,000, but was allowed to leave after
\npaying what he could. An official said the driver stopped in a
\nprohibited zone, and if he wished to park he could have done so
\nfurther on.<\/p>\n
Durmad was among 38 people fined during the operation on
\nThursday, which was coordinated by the mayoralty, police and the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
Officials in such operations are authorized to confiscate a
\nperson's belongings if they do not pay their fine. Fines range
\nfrom Rp 10,000 to Rp 30,000 for violations such as selling goods
\nin prohibited areas and for not being able to show identification
\npapers.<\/p>\n
H.R. Deded Sukandar, the head of the law agency at the
\nmayoralty, said the aim of the operation was to uphold public
\norder. He said people were urged to be honest and to be aware of
\ntheir transgressions, adding that the operation also showed
\nofficials were \"serious\" about maintaining public order.<\/p>\n
Earlier operations have led to an increased awareness of less-
\nserious crimes and violations, Deded said, such as in the Senen
\narea, notorious for thefts.<\/p>\n
He said authorities were lenient in the operation, allowing
\npeople to pay less than the amount of their fines if they were
\nable to convince officials they did not have enough money to pay
\nthe full fine.<\/p>\n
\"A person guilty of not obeying traffic signs is subject to a
\nmaximum fine of Rp 50,000 or three months imprisonment. But we
\nadjust the fine to the type of violation and the condition of the
\nperson,\" said presiding judge Upojo.<\/p>\n
Despite officials' expectations that the operation would make
\npeople more aware of the law, some of those receiving fines
\nseemed to feel they just had bad luck.<\/p>\n
A taxi driver said he had stopped for a moment to get some
\nwater from out of his trunk to wash his face, when he was
\napproached and fined Rp 20,000 for stopping in a no-stopping
\nzone.<\/p>\n
\"This is a really expensive wash,\" Rusman said. (07)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-intensifies-policing-operation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }