Harsher punishments urged for street racers

Harsher punishments urged for street racers

JAKARTA (JP): Police want to get tough with "daredevil"
motorists, mostly youngsters, who race each other on motorbikes
and cars along public roads in the capital during the wee hours.

"Under existing law we are only allowed to impound the racers'
vehicles and ticket drivers found guilty of exceeding the speed
limit," head of the Traffic Directorate of the City Police, Col.
Hotman Siagian, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

"But since this problem has become more serious, I think we
should hand down stricter penalties to offenders," he added.

Currently, motorists are fined a maximum of Rp 5,000 (US$2.29)
for speeding.

The controversial 1992 Traffic Law No. 14 put the maximum fine
at Rp 1 million ($465) and the maximum jail term at one month for
those convicted.

The implementation of the law has been postponed pending a
government review due to strong reactions from a public which
considers the fine to be excessive.

Meanwhile head of the South Jakarta Traffic Police Unit Maj.
Netson said police face difficulties dealing with the street
racers because many of them are children of rich families,
including influential high-ranking officials.

"Some of their fathers had their adjutants come here to ask my
subordinates to return their sons' motorcycles," Netson bitterly
complained.

Under normal procedures, after paying the fine, the violators
should appear in person at the police station to collect their
vehicles and sign a written statement stating that they will
abide by the law in the future.

"If this practice continues unabated, all efforts made by the
police in ticketing these street racers will be fruitless,"
Netson said.

During the late hours of every Saturday evening, groups of
young men congregate along certain artery roads, such as around
the Permata Hijau housing complex in South Jakarta, near Senayan
stadium and Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta.

Some of the racers are so bold as to speed past police
stations.

One such racer from a low-income group told the Post: "We do
this because there is no other way for us to practice this hobby
of ours. The Sentul Racetrack is only for rich people."(bsr)