Police offer free emission testing
Police offer free emission testing
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In an effort to raise public awareness of the need for clean air,
Jakarta Police together with the Clean Emission Foundation will
conduct free emission tests on cars passing through the police
headquarters on Jl. Gatot Subroto every Friday.
Traffic police chief Sr. Comr. Djoko Susilo said on Wednesday
that not all vehicles entering the headquarters could be tested
as they had limited personnel and equipment.
"However, we will try to test as many cars as possible to be
able to reach out to motorists. We want them to know the actual
condition of their cars. We will also gradually increase the
frequency of the test," he said.
Djoko said that the police would tell car owners whether their
emission level was higher than what is permitted.
He added that upon knowing that their cars cause pollution,
car owners were expected to immediately make the necessary
adjustments.
"We want people to know that their main concern should not
only be the engine or body but also the emissions their car
produces as stipulated in the regulation," he said.
He was referring to Law No. 14/1992 on traffic, which
regulates that goods trucks and public transportation vehicles
must pass an emission test to be declared roadworthy.
City Bylaw No. 2/2005 on air pollution control, in addition,
requires all vehicles in the city to undergo emission tests while
Gubernatorial Decree No. 1041/2000 on emission standards for
vehicles regulates that the standards vary among vehicles
depending on age and type of fuel system.
Violators of emission standards could face up to six months in
prison or a Rp 5 million (US$555.56) fine.
Environmental activist Achmad Safrudin welcomed the police
program but expressed concern over the lack of enforcement
despite existing laws.
"It is good that police promote emission awareness among
Jakartans. However, what we want to see is that they start
punishing violators," he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Jakarta, which is the third most polluted city in the world,
has about four million cars. About 70 percent of the hazardous
substances in Jakarta's air comes from vehicular emissions.