Illegal levies haunt public bus drivers
JAKARTA (JP): One complaint of drivers who staged sporadic strikes in the past two weeks was the many official and unofficial fees they are subjected to.
There is a kind of fee which is not clearly defined as official or not -- those collected at terminals. The 'timer', who often collects these fees, are people who are supposed to count buses along respective routes.
The City Land Transportation Agency's transportation business division head, H.M. Djuhdi, said in terminals, levy collecting is not allowed. But the practice seems to be tolerated as levy collectors said they work for public transportation cooperatives.
Some of these levy collectors at Pasar Minggu terminal, South Jakarta, said they should not be blamed for the recent strikes, and that they were "struggling" for a decent life.
Work permits
The collectors said they had work permits from cooperatives, and their job was to help organize traffic at the busy terminal.
The head of the terminal, Harnoto, said, "Drivers pick up passengers wherever they like...passengers are impatient...they (the drivers) prefer to listen to levy collectors."
Drivers often cause congestion when waiting for passengers, he said.
There are only two access roads to the terminal for medium- sized buses and minivans from 36 routes.
"Drivers are sometimes hotheaded people and passengers are impatient to get to the car at the front of the line," Mono, a levy collector said.
"Pasar Minggu is an important transit area," Harnoto said. About 80,000 people pass through the area daily, while 1,250 public transport vehicles plying 36 routes pass through the terminal.
"It's a big headache, so 'timer' are very helpful coordinating this hectic place," he said.
The terminal, with the sidelines filled with vendors, is in the center of a market, department stores, a sleazy cinema, a slimy stream and a train station. Shoppers, suspected thieves, beggars, drivers, students and 'timer' are the spice of the terminal.
Levy collectors, a few senior ones known as "masters", are mostly from North and West Sumatra. Well-known collectors are "well-connected", a local military officer said.
The officer said these senior collectors know everything about the terminal. When drivers commit traffic violations, levy collectors are asked by terminal staff to warn drivers not to repeat the offense.
Several 'timer' at terminals wear blue or green uniforms and others assigned outside terminals are sometimes without uniforms; but all of them carry checklists.
A source said the levy business was connected to bus and minivan owners, city officials and authorities -- but he would not elaborate.
"The business is a vicious cycle," the source said.
Creative and diligent levy collectors expand their "business".
A 'timer' displayed about 10 drivers' licenses confiscated by police for traffic violations.
He had paid a police officer Rp 50,000 (US$20.43) for the licenses, which drivers purchase from the collector at a higher price.
"Drivers and 'timer' are part of cooperatives' arrangement, so drivers should not be angry about the levies," he said.
A driver said, "We can't just blame the 'timer', because they are only terminal workers. Bus fares (currently Rp 300 to Rp 400 for regular buses) should increase to stop strikes," a driver said. (10)