Thousands pack new license office in West Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of people thronged to the newly-opened drivers license office on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, yesterday, to get their license renewed or processed.

The license service center, which has just been moved from the City Police Headquarters in East Jakarta, processed at least 2,600 licenses yesterday, Jakarta Traffic Police Chief Col. Ansyar Roem said.

The data was based on the police service until noon, he said.

"I don't understand why so many of them have forced themselves to come today. We give them two weeks to renew their license after our office was closed for two days during the removal activities," he said.

During the break from Dec. 28 until Jan. 1. many people found that their licenses, which had expired, could not be renewed.

"Actually, all people do not need to come here today, I have ordered all traffic officers not to ticket those whose licenses expired during that time. We still give the people time to renew and if it cannot be done during two weeks, we extend it until one month," Ansyar said.

Lt. Budi Rahardjo from the Jakarta Police Headquarters drivers license section said everything was still being renovated.

Some people seeking license renewals or new licenses complained about the office's remote location.

They said even ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers who operated in the area did not know the office's location.

By yesterday, no direction signs had been put up.

Col. Ansyar said the signboards would be erected soon. He said direction signs would be put along the roads leadings to the office.

One woman having her license renewed said the driver of the bus she took knew where this office was.

Mamah, 48, from Cijantung, East Jakarta, said she went by bus instead of driving herself to make finding the office easier.

Meanwhile, the closure of the old office inspired scalpers offering to arrange license.

They were brokers who offered their services from their offices and then went together to the police office to arrange the licenses.

Widyanto from Kedoya, West Jakarta, said he went there with 18 other license seekers, accompanied by a middleman. For B1 drivers license (for heavy vehicles), they had to pay Rp 180,000 (US$75) each.

It costs between Rp 60,000 and Rp 70,000 each if they did it themselves.

Many people complained of the tariff inconsistencies with some officers charging extra fees.

A Bekasi man said he spent Rp 280,000 to get a B1-type license, "I had to bribe an officer because my A-type (for standard vehicles) driving license is less than one year old, a prerequisite period to change it into a B1-type."

A woman said an officer told her to pay extra if she wanted quicker service.

"I rejected the approach," she said.

Another man said the location lured criminals who operated amid the crowd in front of the office's entrance.

"The thugs must be aware that people are coming here with hundreds of thousands of rupiah.

"I saw a pickpocket victimizing a woman. I hope the police will do something to protect people," he said.

People also complained there was a lack of facilities like telephones and canteens at the new location.

A man, who had to photocopy his documents at a nearby shop, complained that the shop owner charged too much.

"I had to pay Rp 1,500 to have the ID card and drivers license copied, which costs only Rp 200 elsewhere," he said. (05)