Police struggle with three-in-one riders

JAKARTA (JP): Four years after its debut, police are still facing difficulties in enforcing the three-in-one traffic regulation.

Instead of easing the city's traffic congestion, the policy has added unnecessary burdens such as ticketing violators of the policy, police said.

The three-in-one policy requires private cars to carry at least three passengers when traveling along Jl. Gatot Subroto, Sudirman and Thamrin between 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on working days.

This regulation has motivated many people to seek extra income by offering their services as third passengers to motorists, who call them "jockeys". The government regards both these riders and the motorists who pick them up as violators of the regulation.

"As law enforcers, we face a dilemma dealing with the situation, while our job is only to ensure that traffic runs smoothly," Ulyana Purba, an officer in charge of enforcement of the three-in-one policy, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Unfortunately, she said, the policy has given birth to various problems such as the appearance of the riders, the people who organize and exploit them, and the assumption that the city is an easy place to earn money.

"This is a complex problem and we're working to find a solution. It has become difficult for us to discipline jockeys, since it has become a profession for many," she added.

Some 2,300 riders were netted between March 1995 and January 1996 in Jakarta. Those caught were students, dropouts, jobless people, illegal residents and even housewives.

"When questioned, most of the jockeys said that they enjoyed riding in expensive cars and being paid for it, instead of having to work hard to earn a living," Ulyana said. "Unconsciously, we have taught them an easy way to make money."

Many police think they are fighting a lose battle because congested traffic has persisted.

"Right after the time limit expires, cars fill the road and the streets are congested again," a police officer stationed on Jl. Pattimura in East Jakarta said.

Disputes over the policy's effectiveness have ebbed and flowed over the years. The city administrators still consider the three- in-one policy the best way to reduce traffic congestion.

"The key to this problem is that everyone must cooperate," Ulyana concluded. (14)