People skeptical on decentralized driving license issuance

People skeptical on decentralized driving license issuance

Damar Harsanto
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

People are welcoming the police's plan to decentralize its
services for the renewal of drivers' licenses, but they remain
skeptical that it will be successful in eliminating the use of
expensive middlemen protected by corrupt police.

"I welcome the transfer of the service to police precincts
from the central office in Daan Mogot (West Jakarta). However, I
am doubtful that it will be successful in curbing the practice of
middlemen unless police personnel improve their services to
applicants," said Erizal, 35, a taxi driver.

He said the poor service was so slow it made him frustrated,
forcing him to eventually accept a middleman's offer to settle
the paperwork.

"And, you know, I obtained the license within an hour, while a
friend of mine who had attempted to do it all by himself spent
five days," he said.

Starting Tuesday, police will decentralize the driving license
renewal service to police precincts in the center, east and south
of Jakarta.

There are six other precincts, namely North Jakarta, West
Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi and Bogor.

The police plan to extend the services, not just for the
renewal but also the issuance of new drivers' licenses, to the
other precincts, except for West Jakarta. It is still not known
when they will be ready to do so. The office in Daan Mogot will
still serve residents of West Jakarta.

Suparno, 30, a motorcycle taxi driver from Mampang Prapatan,
South Jakarta, said the transfer might lessen crowds. "But, those
middlemen will still run their businesses if police still provide
a poor service."

The police service center in West Jakarta is notorious for its
long queues, poor service and remote location. Middlemen operate
openly and they aggressively offer their services to applicants.

Many people prefer to hire middlemen to settle all
administrative affairs, charging a "service charge" which is at
times double or more the official charge of Rp 52,500. The
middlemen's business is safe thanks to corrupt police personnel.

There are about 700 applicants per day expected to use the
service at every police precinct.

However, the decentralization has not been widely publicized
and it may take time till the public are aware of the changes.