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.