New three-in-one policy to be effective on Monday
New three-in-one policy to be effective on Monday
Abdul Khalik
and Urip Hudiono
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
The Jakarta Police will begin to enforce the three-in-one traffic
policy on Monday after a month-long trial period in which they
recorded a total of 1,908 violations.
"We will take action against all private cars carrying less
than three passengers starting on Monday," city police traffic
division chief Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Ishak said on Friday.
The police and the Jakarta Transportation Agency have been
promoting the policy and conducting several dry runs of the
scheme since Dec. 24, 2003.
"We have conducted an intensive promotion through banners and
printed and electronic media for a month. We hope the public will
obey the regulations on Monday," Sulistyo said.
Police have anticipated possible violations against the
regulations by deploying at least 800 personnel in key entrances
including on Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto in front of Park Royal
Apartment, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl.
Jend. Gatot Subroto at the Kuningan intersection.
"We have recorded some violations including the use of joki
(people posing as passengers for small fee) and mannequins to
deceive police and the use of darker glass windows to make us
unable to see inside the vehicles. We'll take stern action
against all violators," Sulistyo said.
Law No. 14/1992 on traffic stipulates that three-in-one
offenders will be sentenced to a maximum of one month's jail and
a fine of up to Rp 1 million (US$119). However, Bylaw No. 12/2003
on traffic stipulates three-in-one offenders will be sentenced up
to six months' jail and fined up to Rp 50,000.
The old three-in-one policy, that was implemented since 1993,
has been violated by many private car owners who hired joki when
entering the restricted zone.
The transportation agency officers monitoring Jl.
Sisingamangaraja in South Jakarta claimed they counted about 40
cars violating the new three-in-one policy in two hours on Friday
morning alone.
"The number will continue rising until the three-in-one time
ends at 10 a.m.," said Zulhardi, one of the officers.
The agency and the city traffic police would deal with drivers
who broke the rules while civilian guards would be responsible
for joki, he said.
On Friday, some joki were seen operating on Jl.
Sisingamangaraja. They did not fear being caught by the officers.
"As long as there are still people in need of our service, we
will continue to offer it," said one of the joki.
The Jakarta administration issued the Gubernatorial Decree No.
4104/2003 on the extension of the three-in-one policy to support
the Busway project along its corridor from Blok M in South
Jakarta to Kota, West Jakarta.
The extension will effect Jl. Sisingamangaraja in South
Jakarta, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat and Jl. Majapahit in Central
Jakarta, and Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. Pintu Besar
Selatan and Jl. Pintu Besar Utara in West Jakarta, besides the
previous thoroughfares of Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. M. H.
Thamrin in Central Jakarta and Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto in South
Jakarta.
The new policy imposes the restriction from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Previously, the policy was limited from
6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Private car owners have complained about the implementation on
the new traffic policy because it has caused severe traffic jams
on the four alternative roads parallel to the Busway corridor.
They said the Busway has worsened traffic instead of alleviating
it.
During those hours, all cars with less than three passengers
are forbidden on thoroughfares while buses, motorcycles and
vehicles weighing less than 5,501 kilograms must use the slow
lanes. Between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. all vehicles more than 5,501
kilograms are forbidden on the thoroughfares.