Hundreds receive tickets during new 3-in-1's first day

Evi Mariani and Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A total of 780 motorists were ticketed for violating the new three-in-one traffic policy on the first day of its implementation on Monday.

They are scheduled to face trial in two weeks at appointed courthouses depending on the location of the traffic violation.

Each violator will face a maximum of one month's imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp 1 million (US$119) as stipulated by Law No. 14/1992 on traffic.

"Police issued 346 tickets in the morning and 434 tickets in the afternoon to three-in-one violators," said the Jakarta Police traffic division chief Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Ishak.

Most of the violators were private car owners and only a few were official car owners, he said, adding that many high-profile figures demanded to be excluded from the policy.

"I told them to accept the tickets and leave earlier next time."

The number of violators was much higher than the month-long trial period in which the city police recorded 30 violators on Dec. 19, the highest on any day during the period.

Sulistyo explained that police closely monitored check-points at the Youth Statue traffic circle, Gate 1 of the Bung Karno Sports Complex, the corner of Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat and Jl. Merdeka North and along Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk down to Kota Railway Station. Police also kept watch at two other check-points on Jl. Gatot Subroto -- in front of the Park Royal apartment and the Kuningan intersection.

"We also deployed three commanding officers at each check- point to ensure there were no bribery attempts," Sulistyo said.

The extended three-in-one policy was implemented to support the busway project along its 12.9-kilometer corridor, which stretches from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta.

Traffic was normal during the morning restricted period from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Monday, while the busway buses were packed with office workers. However, traffic jams occurred after 10 a.m. when private cars started to flock the capital's main thoroughfares.

With around 800 officers deployed for the implementation of the policy, police have been very strict.

On Jl. Sisingamangaraja, South Jakarta, policemen used megaphones to order passing cars with tinted glass to slow down and wind down their windows for inspection.

However, many ticketed motorists expected the police and the Jakarta Transportation Agency officers, who were deployed to help the police, to be more lenient.

Usman, a truck driver entering Jl. Gajah Mada from Jl. Suryo Pranoto, said he was aware of the regulation but had thought the police officer would only warn instead of ticketing him.

"We'll have to use an alternative route tomorrow," he said, adding that it was uncommon for a truck to carry three passengers.

Police and the city administration have given four alternative routes parallel to the busway corridor for private car owners who still prefer to use their cars. However, many of them were confused as their destinations could only be accessed from the three-in-one zone.

Edi Putra, who entered Jl. Gajah Mada from Jl. Hasyim Ashari, was ticketed when he headed to the Central Jakarta District Court which is only 100 meters away from the corner of Jl. Hasyim Ashari.

"I thought the officers would not mind as it was only a short distance," he said after being ticketed.

Chief of the traffic violation section of the city police traffic division, Comr. Suzana Saras, pointed out that the policy was enforced for all cars passing the restricted zone and not only at the entrances. Only ambulances and fire trucks are exempt from the policy.