Traffic operation launched to round up violators

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)