Jakarta a haven for street racers

JAKARTA: Jakarta traffic police chief Sr. Comr. Djoko Susilo said it was difficult for his unit to stop the use of several thoroughfares as circuits for illegal street motorcycle races.

"Every time the patrol arrives, they immediately scatter and come back as soon we leave," he said on Wednesday, adding that his office had received many complaints about street-racing at night.

The famous illegal circuits are on Jl. Kebon Jeruk Raya, West Jakarta, Jl. Asia Afrika, Jl. Kemayoran, in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Dr. Sahardjo and Jl. Warung Buncit in South Jakarta.

Djoko said that his 150 personnel, plus officers from subprecincts and police posts, fined about 200 street racers every weekend, mostly high school students.

"We talk to them because what they do can harm others as well as themselves ... We also encourage parents to watch over their children," he added. -- JP