Publication on new traffic fines helps compliance

Publication on new traffic fines helps compliance

JAKARTA (JP): Police say most motorists are already aware of
the increase in traffic fines which came into effect on Sept. 1
due to the intensive press coverage.

"In the first three days of the implementation of the fine
hike we have not met any motorists who reacted unfavorably when
we issued tickets to them, perhaps due to the intensive press
coverage of the policy," Sergeant Major Joko Baruaji, a traffic
officer, on duty at the Senayan intersection, Central Jakarta,
said over the weekend.

Chief Sergeant Umar Sahid, a traffic officer on duty at the
Trunojoyo intersection, South Jakarta, concurred with Sergeant
Joko on the matter.

Umar added that sometimes he has to give lengthy explanations
to motorists because they do not know the amount of fines in
detail.

"Sometimes I must show them a list of fines in order to
convince them. But so far I am pleased with their positive
reactions," Umar said.

Second Sergeant Hartono, an officer on duty at the Slipi
intersection, West Jakarta, also said that most of motorists he
met accepted the new fines willingly.

"I issued tickets to two motorists today and neither of them
showed me a negative response," he said.

Under the new fine scale, drivers of privately-owned cars and
public transit buses can be fined between Rp 15,000 (US$6.9) and
Rp 50,000, compared to the present scale of Rp 10,000 to Rp
25,000 for traffic violations.

Jaywalkers and drivers ignoring traffic signs can be fined Rp
10,000, while motorists caught without a drivers license can be
fined between Rp 25,000 and Rp 150,000.

Lim Wie Mie, a driver of minivan for PT. Multi Nugraha, who
was ticketed by Sergeant Joko for violating a traffic sign at the
Senayan intersection, said that the new fines are quite
burdensome.

Loopholes

"The officer ordered me to pay a fine of Rp 30,000. I will be
lucky if my employee is willing to reimburse me for the money
that I have spent," he said.

The 100 percent hike in traffic fines initially caused
apprehension among the public due to some loopholes in the
existing traffic law and inadequate traffic infrastructure, such
as unclear traffic signs, that enable unscrupulous police
officers to press motorists for bribes.

When asked whether or not police officers take bribes from
traffic violators, Sergeant Joko said that he was fully aware of
the negative image that the police have in the eyes of the
public.

"I don't compromise with motorists if there is a proof that he
or she has violated the regulation. Today I issued five tickets,"
he said.

Councilor Arie Putra Bintana, secretary of the City Council's
Commission D on development, earlier said that with the enactment
of the new regulation on traffic fines, a policeman who takes
bribes, if any of them do actually engage in this practice, could
feel motivated to demand a higher "off-the-road settlement fee".

Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto
threw his weight behind the increase in traffic fines, but urged
that the hike be followed by the improvement of police
discipline.

Chairman of the City Council, Police Maj. Gen. MH Ritonga,
also said that an increase in traffic fines would be pointless if
they are not enforced by an uncompromising attitude on the part
of the police. (03)