Three-in-one policy takes a beating in Jakarta's streets

By Edith Hartanto

JAKARTA (JP): The restricted traffic zone policy, referred to as the "three-in-one" system, has had its share of controversy since first being introduced on April 20, 1992.

The policy, based on Law No. 14/1992, requires private cars to carry at least three people when traveling along Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on work days.

The aim of the policy was to discourage people from driving their cars to work, and encourage them to use public transportation or make car-pool arrangements with neighbors or fellow workers.

Few employers adjusted office hours to allow their employees to turn up slightly later to beat the system. Even fewer people resorted to car pools, a totally foreign concept to the nouveau rich, for whom owning and driving a car is status.

Even fewer people decided drive to work before 6:30 a.m.

With public transportation limited to the sorry state of the city's buses and minibuses, even fewer motorists chose this mode if they could help it.

Judging by the rising number of car ownership in Jakarta each year, more and more people have abandoned public transportation and opted for their own cars, almost at any cost.

The three-in-one system was almost doomed from the very beginning.

It went ahead in spite of protests and criticisms because the Jakarta administration, then under governor Wiyogo Atmodarminto, felt that it was the only viable solution, albeit temporary, to ease the ever-worsening congestion in Central Jakarta during the morning rush hours.

But motorists have been innovative in beating the system.

Initially, some simply filled their cars with members of their household, very often their maid or gardener or both, to make up the passenger number.

Eventually, they found natural allies in beating the system: "jockeys", people who offer themselves as passengers for the short ride into the restricted zone and pass the police checkpoints. They only ask for Rp 1,000 each.

A policy that was widely criticized as ineffective finally produced something positive: a new profession, a new way of earning money.

Initially, it was a profession strictly for young boys who went to afternoon schools. But lately, the army of jockeys has been made up of young girls, housewives, and even women with babies.

The police have been virtually helpless to stop the practice.

They have no legal grounds to arrest the jockeys other than charge them with disturbing public order when they stand in the street.

Police operations have been conducted every now and then to round up jockeys. But this mostly turns into cat-and-mouse games.

The police can be tough though. In one celebrated incident in 1993, a traffic police officer shot at the rear window of a car in the belief that the car did not have the required number of passengers.

He was wrong. The car did have three passengers, but the incident was a reminder to other motorists never to underestimate traffic police officers.

Since then, all cars have been required to wind down their windows when passing checkpoints to allow traffic police a glimpse inside cars to ensure compliance to the regulation.

Governor Sutiyoso says he is open to suggestions on what system should replace the three-in-one policy. "I want responses from all members of the community so we can achieve the best solution for our city," he said.