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)