Prizes for parking

Prizes for parking

JAKARTA (JP): City parking authority, BP Parkir, plans to increase parking revenues by offering prizes to motorists.

The idea was first put forward by BP Parkir back in 1988. Under the earlier scheme, regular draws would decide the winners.

"Under the new scheme there are no draws. Motorists see if they win straight away," said Sumaryono.

Each parking receipt has three sections. The motorist gets the first section, which resembles the "scratch and win" lottery tickets long popular in many other countries, the parking attendant the second and the stub is handed into BP Parkir.

Motorists can find out if they won by scratching a special panel on their ticket. The prizes will range from household utensils to cars. BP Parkir hopes the prizes will encourage motorists to ask for their parking receipts.

"We have yet to receive the green light from Governor Surjadi Soedirdja for the plan, hopefully we will get it soon," said BP Parkir director Sumaryono.

The scheme, which was received positively by the City Council, was proposed by a private company. Sumaryono, however, refused to identify the firm, but said the special tickets will be produced by an anonymous foreign firm.

Public apathy has kept BP Parkir from being able to determine revenue based on the parking stubs handed in by the attendants.

Parking attendants are said to support the scheme because they will receive a daily wage of Rp 5,000. (jsk)