Police to begin discipline drive

JAKARTA: Jakarta Police revealed on Thursday that it would launch a campaign to ensure greater compliance of existing traffic signs and regulations among both drivers and pedestrians along some of the capital's thoroughfares.

City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said on Thursday that the campaign will be launched on March 1 and was in response to rising concerns that many street-users pay scant attention to traffic regulations.

The campaign will affect roads from Blok M, in South Jakarta, to the Harmoni area in Central Jakarta, and from Pancoran to Slipi in West Jakarta, Anton said.

"We will deploy some 600 police officers to control and enforce the campaign," said Anton.

The specified areas are intended as a pilot project for other areas. "The program will be evaluated in three months," he added.

The police will give a two-week-long grace period, but as from March 15, they will start fining those who violate the areas' regulations, he warned. -- JP