Thousands flock to City Police for drivers licenses

JAKARTA (JP): About 5,000 Jakartans flocked to the old drivers license service office at City Police headquarters Saturday, the last day of service before the new office on Jl. Daan Mogot becomes operational on Jan. 2

The high demand for drivers licenses started early last week after police announced the opening of a new drivers license service office on Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta, which most drivers say is too far away. Jl. Daan Mogot is also notorious for its constant congestion.

Lt. Suhadi, one of the officers in charge of processing drivers licenses, said the number of license applicants had increased almost five times since Tuesday.

"On Christmas Eve, we worked until 3 a.m. to complete the licensing process. Today we will probably work until 1 a.m.," Suhadi said. He said there was no overtime allowance.

However applicants said the officers in charge would collect much "understanding" money from the applicants.

Tye banks in charge of receiving fees for the licenses and the counters selling the sheets for the applicants closed before 12:00 noon as announced Saturday.

"We have to close earlier or the number of applicants will swell," a bank employee said.

Many applicants said they were disappointed with the closure, saying they had spent much time queuing for new application sheets.

"I stood here for almost an hour to get the sheets but the counters were closed unexpectedly," Adi, a resident of Jl. Radio Dalam, South Jakarta, said.

He said the new office was too far away from his house and lingering traffic jams had made him too lazy to visit the new office. "That's why I came here today although my drivers license has not yet expired."

Some people, made aware of the planned removal of the service by televisions and newspapers, wanted the old office to be still functional. "I think the old office on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, is very representative and is easy to reach by those living in any area of the city."

Another applicant, Rudi, suggested the police open services at every police precinct in five mayoralties. "This would be much more efficient for applicants," he said.

But Lt. Suhadi said the idea of opening drivers license offices at police precincts would be difficult to realize. "We need space and rooms to test the applicants, for the computers, driving test areas, and so on. The precincts would lack facilities."

Meanwhile, drivers license brokers enjoyed the last days as they increased their service fees by 50 percent five days ago.

Ramlan, a broker, said the cost of a license was between Rp 200,000 (US$84.21) and Rp 300,000. "The officers also increased their tariff."

Usually he charged an applicant between Rp 125,000 and Rp 150,000 for a motorcycle license and between Rp 150,000 and Rp 180,000 for a car license.

The official cost for both licenses is Rp 52,500 each.

Another broker, Joko, also a security officer for an advertising agency in South Jakarta, predicted the number of brokers would increase if the office moved because people would be reluctant to go to the new office.

He said his customers were mostly private and government office employees who had almost no time to apply and arrange their drivers licenses. "I took care of five applicants today. I have a friend in the drivers license service office. He doesn't increase the fees," he said Saturday. (jun)