'I prefer to see my money goes to state budget'

'I prefer to see my money goes to state budget'

Most motorists in Jakarta prefer to bribe police officers rather
than going to the court when they are ticketed. Their reasons
vary from the timely court proceedings, the existence of
middlemen, the trial staged on working days and so forth. The
Jakarta Post interviewed some other residents on their preference
when being ticketed.

Leonard, 28, is an IT consultant who lives with his wife and
newly-born son in Kuningan, South Jakarta:

Actually, I prefer my money go to the state budget via the
court rather than see it go into the pockets of police officers
if I was ticketed and got fined for violating traffic
regulations.

But if I can bribe the officer for less than the fine
sanctioned by the court and save the trouble of going to the
court, I prefer to give a bribe, for sure.

Who wouldn't, anyway? So let's congratulate the officers for
getting a new source of "income", because any fool will obviously
choose for faster and cheaper settlement out of court.

Santi, 32, is a housewife living in Bintaro, Tangerang, with
her husband and two children:

I have never been ticketed... I hope I won't. But if I were
ticketed by police officers, I will definitely go to court. I
don't want to give my money to those corrupt officers.

I don't mind going to the court for the trial. If I think it's
not worth it, I would just apply for a new driving license, it's
much cheaper and simpler in the long run.

But I just heard recently from my friends that police officers
now refuse to be bribed anymore. They now give tickets. Is it
true?

-- The Jakarta Post