Over 100 taxis ticketed for charging unauthorized fares<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ)
\nofficials on Monday ticketed over 100 taxis, mostly from the
\nbiggest taxi company, Blue Bird, for ignoring the agency's
\nwarning letter not to charge passengers the new rates, an
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
DLLAJ head, Buyung Atang, said his men would continue the raid
\nagainst vehicles from disobedient taxi firms and would even
\nimpose severe penalties such as confiscating taxis which have
\nbeen ticketed three times.<\/p>\n
By late afternoon, the operation had already ticketed 116
\ntaxis, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the offending taxis were from the Blue Bird group,\"
\nBuyung said on the sidelines of the Jakarta Regional Council
\nplenary session.<\/p>\n
None of the Blue Bird group's executives could be reached for
\ncomment.<\/p>\n
According to Buyung, those ticketed in the raid should attend
\nthe district court trials in which they could face a maximum
\npenalty of a Rp 2 million fine.<\/p>\n
Prior to the raid, the DLLAJ office had distributed warning
\nletters to all taxi companies operating in Jakarta, ordering them
\nnot to use the new fare on the grounds that the regulation has
\nyet to receive the green light from the city councilors or an
\nofficial announcement from Governor Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
Through Gubernatorial Decree No. 2503 dated Aug. 22, the
\nadministration agreed to hike the flag fall from Rp 2,000 (25
\nU.S.cents) to Rp 3,000, the meter charge from Rp 900 per
\nkilometer to Rp 1,300 per kilometer and the waiting fee from Rp
\n10,000 to Rp 13,000 per hour.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso contended on Monday that he agreed to the hike to
\nsave most taxi companies from bankruptcy on the recommendation of
\nhis staff who had conducted months of survey.<\/p>\n
\"But if the decision burdens the passengers, then the
\ncouncilors can always reject the regulation because it has not
\nyet been discussed with them,\" the governor said.<\/p>\n
Most passengers were surprised to learn about the new fare on
\nFriday as it was not preceded by an official announcement. The
\nBlue Bird group had even adjusted most of their taxi's meters to
\nthe new fare.<\/p>\n
Other companies only provided a table of the new price list to
\ntheir drivers but withdrew it on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The fare hike was based on the proposal by the Organization of
\nLand Transportation Owner's (Organda) Jakarta chapter, claiming
\nthat the hike was important for the taxi business to avoid
\nbankruptcy and to save other related lines of works.<\/p>\n
However, Sutiyoso said on Friday that since the official
\nannouncement for the fare hike had yet to be made, he ordered the
\nDLLAJ to take stern action against any taxis charging passengers
\nthe new rate.<\/p>\n
A councilor from the United Development Party (PPP) Ali Imron
\nHusein said on Monday that the council will summon DLLAJ on
\nTuesday to, among other things, seek clarification on the issue.<\/p>\n
\"We also plan to summon Organda about the decree after we have
\nheard DLLAJ's explanation,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
Ali said his commission, which covers land transportation, has
\nyet to receive any letter from the governor about the fare hike.<\/p>\n
\"I find it strange that if the governor had submitted the
\ndecree to the council on Aug. 22, why haven't we seen the letter
\nabout the increase yet.<\/p>\n
This seems impossible,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Protests on the fare hike on Monday also came from a number of
\nBlue Bird taxi drivers, who demanded Sutiyoso retract the
\nregulation. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/over-100-taxis-ticketed-for-charging-unauthorized-fares-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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