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.