Traffic operation launched to round up violators

JAKARTA (JP): City Police start a massive operation against traffic violators in and around the capital today.

During the operation, scheduled to last 60 days, a total of 1,823 police personnel, accompanied by personnel from various institutions, will be targeting the netting of at least 1,500 violators per day, particularly along selected roads in "traffic order" areas.

Traffic violators will be fined under Traffic Law No. 14, which imposes stiffer fines than the previous law.

City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo officially inspected the preparations of his personnel for the drive at the police headquarters here yesterday.

In his speech, Dibyo said that the chief objective of the operation, code named Operasi Zebra Emas (Operation Golden Zebra), is "to instill a high sense of traffic discipline in road users, particularly in the traffic order zones and other roads, which are prone to chronic traffic jams."

The main target of the operation, Dibyo said, is violators whose actions have "the potential" to cause accidents and traffic congestion.

This year's operation is mainly intended to help create a better traffic flow situation in the run-up to the upcoming golden anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day on Aug. 17.

A similar operation carried out last September for a full month deployed around 1,500 personnel. Unfortunately, the operation failed to serve its main purpose because no significant changes were seen in the attitudes of motorists.

The police department bore the brunt of the failure as people blamed unscrupulous police officers for taking bribes and releasing errant motorists.

This time the operation will be supported by a special police force and dozens of police personnel equipped with new cars and motorcycles donated by the public.

The head of the City Traffic Police Directorate, Col. Soeroso, said an intelligence operation targeting police officers taking bribes from traffic violators will also be carried out during the two-month traffic campaign.

Soeroso said that non-police members involved in the operation include military officers, personnel of the Traffic and Land Transportation Control Agency, and Armed Forces military police officers.

"We have instructed all personnel involved in the operation to carefully study the extent of the violations committed by traffic law offenders before ticketing them in order to avoid lengthy debates," he said.

"We really hope that all drivers are well prepared before driving their vehicles," he said.

Besides using their official vehicles, the traffic policemen will also be allowed to use unmarked cars with dark windows to ticket violators, who tend to obey the rules only if they see policemen around, Soeroso said.

"All of the policemen in charge are in their uniforms and have to show their identity cards, if necessary," he added.

Soeroso explained that the target of 1,500 violators per day does not mean police are just out to ticket as many violators as possible.

"This target is simply made in order that the personnel of the operation will strictly ticket traffic violators to teach them a lesson," he said.

Head of Operation Affairs of the City Traffic Police Directorate, Lt. Col. Herman, said the operation personnel will also ticket street vendors, delinquent commuters and anyone whose cars are equipped with harmful and illegal accessories, such as huge tires and high-powered brake lights.

The police are expecting the help of related city agencies as well in order to discipline owners of repair shops and businesses selling goods along the side of the road and creating traffic jams.

"The operation will be useless without the help of other parties, including the public," Herman said. (bsr)