Legislators back plan to scrap 3-in-1 rule

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's plan to revoke the "three-in-one" traffic regulation has received strong support from the city's legislators.

But police oppose any change to the law. Police said the only reason it had been ineffective was the presence of three-in-one kids or "jockeys" -- youngsters who become the second and/or third passenger in a car so the driver can access the restricted areas during rush hours.

Councilor Ali Wongso, the head of Commission D for development affairs, said he supports Sutiyoso's plan to replace the three-in-one regulation with special stickers for cars.

Lukman Mokoginta, the head of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction, said it was important to change the concept and introduce monthly stickers which allow motorists to use three-in- one areas.

The selling of stickers would help increase the city's revenue and the extra money could be injected into creating a better transport network in the city, Lukman said.

The three-in-one regulation, which was introduced in 1992, requires a minimum of three passengers in a private car traveling along the Jl. MH Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and part of Jl. Gatot Subroto thoroughfares between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. every day, except Sundays.

Traffic police are usually on guard at each entrance to the restricted zones.

However, motorists can easily thwart the restriction by paying jockeys to make up the shortfall in passengers.

Governor Sutiyoso disclosed his plan to review the three-in- one policy after meeting with President Soeharto on Monday.

Stickers

"Why should we maintain an ineffective policy?" he said, adding that he may introduce monthly stickers.

Councilor Ali suggested the price of stickers be set at Rp 100,000 (US$28.60) per car per month.

"If the stickers are set at a lower price, many motorists would be able to buy them, so the traffic would still be congested," he said.

According to Jakarta Traffic Police Chief Col. Fakhrudin Bakar, the existing policy is good enough.

"But the presence of jockeys makes the policy less effective," he said.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the jockeys also contributed to the crime rate, with police often catching the youths with knives, old credit cards and mobile phones in their possession.

Data showed that about 8,000 jockeys, including housewives, have been apprehended by authorities in the last five years.

Fakhrudin said the traffic police would set up a team, comprising of related officials, to evaluate the three-in-one policy.

"The team might need a week to decide whether or not the policy should be revoked," he said.

Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs Tb.M. Rais said the city administration had started reviewing the policy.

"We found that the three-in-one regulation does not work effectively," he said.

"It is no longer suitable for Jakarta's traffic situation. Therefore, we are looking for alternative solutions."

Jockeys

When asked to comment yesterday, the jockeys expressed their dissatisfaction with Sutiyoso's plan saying that they would lose their "job".

Teguh, 15, said he earned between Rp 2,000 and Rp 3,000 per day.

He admitted that he was frequently arrested by police officers who pretended to be motorists.

He said he was often "placed" at the Kedoya social service office or Cipayung social service office in West Jakarta.

"But now I can recognize cars used by police officers," he said.

Another jockey, Amat, refuted Aritonang's accusation that jockeys often committed crimes.

The two young boys usually wait for motorists on Jl. Satrio and Jl. Senopati in South Jakarta. (05/07/jun)