When driving in Jakarta gets even tougher

Bambang Nurbianto The Jakarta Post Jakarta

It is always annoying when you are forced to use a service or pay a much higher price than warranted for something.

Iwan, who runs a small business selling lubricant oil, had to be towed when his rented light truck developed an engine problem in Jembatan Tiga, West Jakarta, recently.

"How could this happen? They just towed my rented truck without asking my permission," he told The Jakarta Post in the tow truck compound in Grogol, West Jakarta.

Iwan is just one of many victims of the vast number of tow trucks operating uncontrollably in the city. The number of tow trucks on Jakarta's roads has been growing amid a lack of regulations and monitoring from the city administration, with many of them freely charging exorbitant prices for their services.

The head of the city transportation agency, Rustam Effendi, confirmed that tow truck cooperative Kopedar sets its own rates and there was no monitoring of the services by the agency.

Kopedar sets rates ranging from Rp 125,000 (US$13.4) to Rp 450,000 for services outside toll roads and between Rp 50,000 and Rp 120,000 on toll roads, depending on the distance and the type of vehicle.

But in actual practice, tow truck owners charge customers far more that the set rates.

Julia, who lives in Tangerang, said her husband nearly clashed with a tow truck owner who demanded Rp 300,000 after towing her car only two kilometers.

"My husband called a friend after realizing that the tow truck driver had a sharp weapon that might be used to force him to pay," Julia said, adding that finally her husband had to pay Rp 160,000.

Commenting on the victims' statement, a tow truck driver, who refused to be identified, said they had to charge a higher price for the service because they had to pay police officers for security.

Agus, who works with Kopedar, denied that tow truck drivers force owners of cars that break down on the road to use their services and charge them higher prices.

"If they force you, report it to the cooperative," he said.

Hermawan, another tow truck driver, said tow trucks were allowed to operate on toll roads although there were free towing services from toll operator PT Jasa Marga after paying official tow truck drivers who patrol the toll road. But Hengki Herwanto, PT Jasa Marga secretary, denied it.

Arianto, a communications officer at PT Jasa Marga, advised toll road users to immediately contact the company's communications service if their cars break down on a toll road.

"If you don't want an unofficial tow truck to tow your car, you should not open your car window but instead immediately contact the toll road communications department," he said.