Is that car legit? Check on SMS 1717

JAKARTA: Cellular phone users in Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi and Depok can now check the legality of a vehicle by sending short message (SMS) to 1717.

"The operator of SMS 1717 will send a message saying whether the vehicle is registered," the city traffic police head Sr. Comr. Djoko Susilo said on Friday.

The service was provided to accommodate busy people and requests during public holidays, Djoko said.

A user sends information on the plate registration number of the vehicle to the operator.

However, a reply would take a few minutes, he said, as the operator have to confirm the data with the inter-department office of vehicle document registration.

The reply would include the type of the vehicle, the color and year of issue, but not the name of the current owner. -- JP