Speeders make quick getaways on weak evidence

Speeders make quick getaways on weak evidence

Urip Hudiono and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Efforts to protect Jakartans from road accidents caused by
reckless, rubber-burning motorists often come to no avail, as the
evidence is not considered solid enough for court.

"Speed-gun results are not accepted. Defendants argue that the
results are questionable, as they come from the police and could
well be fabricated," Adj. Sr. Comr. Naufal Yahya, chief of the
Jakarta Police traffic division's law enforcement unit, told The
Jakarta Post.

Thus, the police are reluctant to issue tickets for speeding,
he said.

There are clear legal grounds for sanctioning speeders as
regulated in Article 23 of Law No. 14/1992 on traffic, which
demands that motorists obey traffic signs. Article 61 of the law
stipulates a maximum sentence of one month in prison and/or Rp 1
million (US$111) fine for any offenses.

Another traffic regulation specifies a speed limit of 40
kilometers per hour (kph) on city roads, and up to 60 kph on main
thoroughfares. On inner city toll roads the speed limit is
between 60 kph and 80 kph, while on intercity toll roads, the
limit is between 60 kph and 100 kph.

At one time, toll road operator PT Jasa Marga tested out its
speed camera equipment. The trial had to be stopped, as so many
vehicles went over the speed limit that the data overloaded the
equipment.

Judge Sunaryo of the Central Jakarta District Court admitted
on Monday that he had never presided over a trial on speeding.

"But, if the legitimacy of the evidence is called in to
question, the police need to explain to the court how their
equipment works. That way, judges can better consider the case,"
he told the Post.

Naufal said the police would coordinate with courts in the
near future on the use of speed cameras, which would mean that
evidence was better analyzed and more reliable.

In a recent meeting between the Ministry of Communications'
traffic directorate, PT Jasa Marga, Jiwasraya state insurance
company and the National Police, the institutions agreed to
reinstall speed monitoring equipment on toll roads.

From January to July this year, 2,631 traffic accidents were
reported in Greater Jakarta, in which 586 people died and 1,508
others were seriously injured.

On Aug. 17, three pedestrians waiting for the bus on the
sidewalk on Jl. TB Simatupang, South Jakarta, were killed when a
speeding bus with faulty brakes hit them.