Motorcycle tax

As a dealer in new motorcycles, I am perplexed over the extra money that must be paid to obtain their registration papers. For a Honda C100, the official amount of tax is Rp 371,700, but I have to pay Rp 440,000. The difference of nearly Rp 70,000 is unofficial. But without it, the officials will not process the papers. Why should they be paid this amount, since they are already paid for the job they do? In addition, there are other "fees" in variable amounts, all to be borne by the prospective owner of a new motorcycle. This not only happens in my province, Semarang, but occurs everywhere in Indonesia.

As a citizen who is concerned about the law, I do not like to see these things happening, especially not with law enforcers like traffic police. I suggest that the tariff for obtaining motor vehicle documents is appended above the counter windows for everybody to see in order that the officials have second thoughts on levying extra charges.

YOE

Semarang, Central Java