[b]Can new train

Can new train penalties stick?

From Warta Kota

Starting July 1, 2003, the Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi division of the railway company has said it will impose a fine on electric train passengers in either economy or express (air-conditioned) train cars if they violate a number of the railway company's regulations.

Passengers on economy trains who fail to show a valid ticket or sit on a car roof will be subject to a fine of Rp 50,000. If a passenger on an express train commits these offenses, the fine will be 20 times the ticket price.

Until June 30, 2003, the fine had been five times the ticket price, regardless of whether the passenger was on an economy or express train. It is not clear whether this fine and the fine to be imposed as of July 1, 2003, have a a proper legal basis.

It is still not clear whether the railway company will be able to strictly enforce this fine. Of course, if it can, law-abiding passengers will welcome this as the train will be free of beggars, vendors and the like.

Unfortunately, it seems that the railway company is only bluffing and has no power to enforce this stipulation to the letter.

RURI MUHSONO

Bekasi

West Java