Extortion through parking

Extortion through parking

From Warta Kota

Following the increase in fuel prices and expressway tolls, parking operators are demanding higher fees, while their previous promise to build canopies at parking ticket booths to protect car windows from rain water has not been kept yet.

Parking areas under Jakarta's parking management board are mostly handled by hoodlums in uniform. At Metro Pasar Baru, Rp 2,000 is charged for less than an hour without a ticket. In Gajah Mada plaza, the same fee applies per entrance though Rp 1,000 is clearly printed on tickets.

Another "legalized extortion" ring is taking place in Mitra Keluarga hospital, Kelapa Gading, and the shopping area of Jl. Barito. Cars that drop off passengers or pick up patients without parking are also forced to pay up.

For parking in hospitals, the fees should be paid per entrance rather than per hour. Parking by the hour is more suited to such buildings as shopping centers. Meanwhile, the Consumers Institute has done nothing to deal with the parking confusion.

RANDY Jakarta