Judges still lenient to traffic violators<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): It was something of an anti-climax to the tough
\ntalk of the police and their new operation to clamp down on
\ntraffic violators.<\/p>\n
As the first trials of the hundreds of motorists caught under
\nthe special operation were opened in five district courts in
\nJakarta on Tuesday, judges refrained from imposing the stiffest
\npenalties permitted by law -- almost to the point of defeating
\nthe operation's objective.<\/p>\n
Of the 764 cases brought before the courts on Tuesday, the
\nheftiest fine imposed was Rp 250,000, well below the Rp 6 million
\nallowed by the 1992 Traffic Law. Most of the other fines were
\njust above Rp 100,000 and many were actually below that.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Police launched its special operation on Jan. 3,
\nknown locally as the KTL, when traffic laws were to be fully
\nenforced on the city's main thoroughfares.<\/p>\n
Since the enactment of the law in 1992, police have been
\nreluctant to impose the full fines because of strong public
\nopposition. But with traffic violations continuing almost
\nunabated as of late, police decided that the stiff penalties
\nshould be imposed as a deterrent.<\/p>\n
The first trials were opened simultaneously in Central, North,
\nSouth, East and West Jakarta District Courts on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
As was widely expected, the majority of those caught were
\npublic transport drivers, notorious for their reckless driving
\nwhich often puts their passengers at great risk.<\/p>\n
The South Jakarta District Court was the busiest, with 314
\ncases brought before it. The cases were dealt with quickly as
\nmost of motorists did not bother to argue and simply accepted the
\nverdicts and the fines, according to Pos Kota.<\/p>\n
The Central Jakarta District came second with 191 cases of
\ntraffic violations.<\/p>\n
Some of the motorists were not aware of the special operation
\nand were surprised when the judges read the amounts they had to
\npay. Many were not prepared and forced to retrieve funds from
\nhome.<\/p>\n
One or two defendants did try to argue their way out, but were
\nunsuccessful. One motorcyclist even tried to appeal his verdict,
\nbut changed his mind when the judge challenged him to produce a
\nwitness to corroborate his stand.<\/p>\n
Many bus drivers were fined for failing to observe the new
\npolicy requiring that all doors of their vehicles should be shut
\nwhen they are moving.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a coordinating meeting was held on Tuesday
\ninvolving officials from the Jakarta High Prosecution Office and
\nthe City Police to review the operation after its first week.<\/p>\n
The meeting agreed that full enforcement of the 1992 Traffic
\nLaw would be expanded to all of Jakarta as of Aug. 17, the day
\nIndonesia marks its independence anniversary.<\/p>\n
\"It is a gift to the people in connection with the
\nanniversary,\" quipped Suyoto, the chief of the Jakarta High
\nProsecution Office. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/judges-still-lenient-to-traffic-violators-1447893297",
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