'I'm sure my money goes to the state if I go to court'

Most traffic violators prefer to bribe their way out of a ticket rather than have to go to court, which most people imagine to be a time-consuming and complicated process. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents about the issue.

Anto, 30, is a freelance copywriter who lives in Klender, East Jakarta:

Going to court for a traffic offense is annoying. I learned this when I was ticketed last year in Pamulang, Tangerang, because I didn't know that motorcyclists couldn't turn right at this intersection. The police officer asked me if I wanted to pay him right there or go to court. I chose the latter.

When I showed up at the South Jakarta District Court, there were lots of middlemen. They offered me their services for Rp 20,000 (US$2.40). Luckily, I didn't accept because I ended up only being fined Rp 20,000. I got a receipt and I was sure that my money went to the state budget.

However, I suggest that in the future when traffic violators are ticketed by the police, they be able to pay the fine as decided by the police at the nearest ATM. Then they can submit the ATM receipt to the police to get their driver's license back.

Anes, 24, works at a PR company on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta. She lives with her husband in Cipete, South Jakarta:

I have never been ticketed. But if I were, I would prefer to go to court. I want to help enforce the law.

I don't want to bribe police officers because their image is already tarnished. The police always claim they don't accept bribes, but in fact they do.

I have heard from my friends who settled tickets at court that the procedure is quite complicated. I think it's a valuable lesson for us to obey traffic rules.

-- The Jakarta Post