Governor threats parking operators over hike

Governor threats parking operators over hike

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City Governor Sutiyoso has threatened private parking
operators who overcharge motorists, warning he will launch legal
action or shut them down.

"We would warn and take action against those who increase the
fees and violate parking regulation," Sutiyoso told reporters
after a ceremony in North Jakarta.

A gubernatorial decree stipulates that the parking fee is Rp
1,000 (US cents 10) per hour.

Several operators, who manage parking lots in private
buildings, have set the tariff for cars as much as Rp 1,000 for
half an hour.

Sutiyoso insisted that the hike was illegal even though last
year he lost a legal battle on a similar case.

Two years ago, Sutiyoso inspected and "sealed" several parking
booths here for increasing the parking fee.

One of the operators, Secure Parking, sued him at the Central
Jakarta Court, which later decided that the governor's decree on
parking fee was unlawful.

The city administration has no authority to set the amount of
taxes, including parking fees. Instead, it is able only to
monitor the implementation of tax.

Separately, Financial Assistant to the City Secretary, Makmun
Amin, admitted on Tuesday that the legal regulation for the
parking fees is still unclear.

"We would propose a bylaw on parking which would regulate
parking fees in the city, both operated by city parking body and
private firms," Makmun said.

During a hearing with the City Council Commission C for
Budgetary Affairs on Tuesday, the City Audit Body head Hendarin
Ono Saleh said the private firms have not paid their contribution
to the administration of Rp 205 million.

"We would continue to ask them to pay their obligation. If
they refused to pay, we would bring it to the court," Hendarin
told reporters after the hearing.

Councillor Gatot Setiabudi said he would support the
administration in taking legal action against private firms who
refused to pay their contribution.

"They could not just increase the fee. The administration
should be more active to handle the case since it's a public
interest," said Setiabudi, who represents the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle.