Traffic agency criticized for ticketing violators

JAKARTA (JP): Regardless of the harsh criticism from city councilors, the Municipal Traffic and Land Transportation Control Agency (DLLAJR) is still issuing traffic tickets to traffic violators in West Jakarta.

On Saturday, for example, the Agency sent 45 traffic violators to trials at the West Jakarta District Court. Most of them were public transport drivers, who were faced with fines ranging from Rp 10,000 (US$4.6) to Rp 20,000 ($9.2), plus a Rp 600 (27 cents) administrative fee.

According to the 1992 Traffic Law, the police are the only institution with the authority to issue tickets to traffic offenders. The agency can only identify violators and hand them over to the police, who will issue the red tickets. The violators are then required to go the appointed bank to pay the fine before they can get their documents or vehicles back from the police.

Officials from the bank have reportedly refused to accept payment for the white traffic tickets issued by the Agency.

Theo Marbun, an agency official, denied the allegations thrown by city councilor that the tickets issued by the agency are unlawful. He added that the ticket issuance is based on a 1972 gubernatorial decree and Article 61 of the 1992 Traffic Law.

Theo said that Agency officials impose the fines on violators in their capacity as civilian investigators.

However, Ismail Sebayang, spokesman of the West Jakarta District Court, said the agency could not use the 1992 Traffic Law as its legal ground. He also considers the fines imposed by the agency to be improper.

A similar statement was released by Saud Rachman, a city councilor from the United Development Party (PPP). He said that the agency's action is illegal and urged the agency's chief to punish any subordinates found guilty of issuing tickets to traffic offenders.

The Suara Karya daily reported yesterday that the traffic tickets issued by the agency have created confusion at the West Jakarta District Court.

The court has to provide two separate rooms to handle the traffic violation cases, one to be used for the cases sent by the West Jakarta police precinct, another by the agency.

The daily also reported that the twin management has resulted in confusion among traffic violators. (03)