Traffic fines to rise up to 100% as of next month
Traffic fines to rise up to 100% as of next month
JAKARTA (JP): The government has announced that it will
increase traffic fines up to 100 percent as of September in
Jakarta as part of a plan to enhance motorists' obedience to
traffic laws.
City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto said over the
weekend that records show that motorists tend to ignore traffic
laws because the existing fines are so low.
Hindarto said that the number of traffic accidents grew by
67.1 percent in the period of April-June compared to the first
three months of the year, while the number of deaths during the
same period increased by 1.9 percent.
"Police issue around 1,200 tickets on average every day, up
from the previous period. Motorists are not afraid to violate the
traffic law since they think the fines are not burdensome," he
added.
As part of the efforts to improve adherence of the traffic
laws, city police, the provincial prosecutor's office and high
court have agreed to increase traffic fines as of September. The
move is to be applied exclusively in Jakarta.
The present traffic fines were issued prior to the
implementation of the 1992 traffic law on Sept. 17, 1993.
Public upset
The traffic law sets fines at up to Rp 6 million (US$2,760).
This upset the public because they considered the new fines
exorbitant. The public's strong opposition to the implementation
of the law, which was due in September 1992, delayed its
application.
In response to the public's protests, the authorities then
stated that the rate of fines could be adjusted to the financial
capability of the public. Each province then had its own fine
rates.
Under the new fine scale, drivers of non-motorized
transportation, such as becak (pedicabs) and horsecarts, can be
fined between Rp 10,000 and 15,000, depending on the type of
violation committed, compared to Rp 5,000 for all violations
under the present fine system.
Fines for motorcycles are set between Rp 10,000 and Rp 15,000,
compared to the present rate of between Rp 5,000 and Rp 15,000.
Drivers of private cars and public buses can be fined between
Rp 15,000 and Rp 50,000 compared to between Rp 10,000 and Rp
25,000 under the present rates.
Drivers of pick-ups can be fined between Rp 15,000 and Rp
75,000 compared to between Rp 10,000 and Rp 30,000 under the
present rates.
The new rates of fines for trucks are set between Rp 25,000
and Rp 125,000 compared to the old rate of between Rp 15,000 and
Rp 50,000.
Drivers of trailer trucks can be fined between Rp 30,000 and
Rp 150,000 compared to between Rp 15,000 and Rp 60,000 under the
present fine rates.
Among the most serious violations, which automatically incur
the maximum fine, are ignoring traffic signs and driving without
a license. (jsk)