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.