Maximum Fine for Odd-Even Policy Violators Starts

Helena F Nababan

· 6 minutes read

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Starting Wednesday (1/8/2018), the maximum fine will be imposed on motorists that violate the odd-even traffic policy implemented on 13 major thoroughfares. The expanded odd-even policy will be in effect until Sept. 2.

The Jakarta Police said on Wednesday (1/8/2018) it would deploy 600 officers to several spots throughout the city to monitor traffic and fine motorists motorists that violate the odd-even traffic policy.

The fine is in line with Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation No. 77/2018 on the odd-even traffic policy for the 2018 Asian Games. Affected roads include Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Jl. MH Thamrin, Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Jl. Sisingamangaraja, Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. S Parman from the Tomang to the Slipi intersections.

Other affected roads are Jl. MT Haryono, Jl. HR Rasuna Said, Jl. DI Panjaitan, Jl. Ahmad Yani, Jl. Benyamin Angkasa from the Angkasa roundabout to Kupingan Ancol, Jl. Metro Pondok Indah from the Kartini to the Mal Pondok Indah intersections, and Jl. RA Kartini from the Ciputat Raya to the Kartini intersections. The policy applies from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.

National Traffic Police chief Insp. Gen. Royke Lumowa said on Tuesday that he had yet to see any road signs for the odd-even traffic policy. The road signs are also stipulated in the gubernatorial regulation. “On Wednesday, [the road signs] should have been installed on all roads affected by the odd-even policy. Pak Andri said the road signs would be up [on Wednesday],” he said, referring to city transportation agency chief Andri Yansyah.

With the regulation in effect, Royke said the police would have the authority to punish motorists that violated the odd-even traffic policy. He said the punishment refers to Traffic Law No. 22/2009, including a verbal warning, prohibiting motorists from entering roads where the policy applies and fines.

Royke said the police would also take action if motorists were found using fake license plates. “We have an application to detect [fake plates],” he said.

Jakarta Traffic Police chief Sr. Comr. Yusuf said that the maximum punishment of a Rp 500,000 (US$34.67) fine or two-month imprisonment would be imposed on motorists violating the odd-even policy. The police had also prepared traffic diversion tactics to anticipate traffic jams on alternative routes.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said that the expanded odd-even policy would only be in effect during the 2018 Asian Games. “Afterwards, we will evaluate [the policy],” he said in North Jakarta.

Anies confirmed that law enforcement measures for policy violators would become viable once the gubernatorial regulation was issued. “The [regulation] does not apply to motorbikes,” he said.

Separately, transportation agency chief Andri Yansyah said that road signs warning motorists of the odd-even traffic policy were to have been installed on Wednesday.

Tollgate closure trial

Wednesday will also mark the beginning of the trial for closing 19 tollgates along the inner-city toll road between the Athletes Village in Kemayoran, North Jakarta, and Asian Games venues.

Authorities will close 10 tollgates from the Athletes Village to Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Ancol Barat, Jembatan Tiga 1, Angke 2, Tanjung Duren, Off Ramp RS Harapan Kita, Slipi 2, Podomoro, Rawamangun, Pedati and TMII.

Nine tollgates from the GBK to the Athletes Village will be closed from noon to 9 p.m., namely Gedong Panjang 2, Jembatan Tiga 2, Angke 1, Jelambar 1, Slipi 1, Sunter, Jatinegara, Kebon Nanas and TMII.

“We will begin the trial [on Wednesday] and later, we will evaluate it. The actual tollgate closure policy will begin on Aug. 18, the opening day of the Asian Games,” said Yusuf.

Corporate secretary Muhammad Agus Setiawan of state toll road operator PT Jasa Marga said that the tollgate closure trial would help develop a traffic policy to support the mobility of Asian Games athletes and officials during their stay.

Public transportation

Greater Jakarta Transportation Body (BPTJ) head Bambang Prihartono said that he encouraged Jakartans to use public transportation. For those insisting on using private cars, the Asian Games traffic policies would be available on map and GPS mobile apps such as Google Maps and Waze to help motorists get around the city during the sports event.

Some motorists remain dissatisfied with the policy. Cibubur resident Sutari, 40, who works in Kemanggisan, West Jakarta, said he was confused by the directions on the GPS app. From the Cibubur toll road, the app directed him to take the long way along the Meruya toll road to exit in Kemanggisan. Usually, he exited the toll road at either the DPR or Slipi tollgates.

“The Google Maps mapping system makes my journey much longer. I spent two hours driving from my house to my office [using Google Maps]. Usually, it does not that long,” Sutari said.

In contrast, others agreed with the expanded policy, saying they believed the system would reduce traffic significantly on. Jl. Gatot Subroto, and therefore reduce congestion and pollution as well. “I agree [with the policy] as [the air above Jakarta] is heavily polluted, making our lives unhealthy,” said Depok resident Eky, 38.

Motorist Punto Dewo, 52, said he had yet to read the complete list of roads affected by the odd-even policy. However, he said he would support the policy for the sake of the Asian Games.

Josef, 38, a motorist on Jl. Gatot Subroto, said the expanded odd-even policy was not efficient in reducing traffic congestion, as Jakarta’s public transportation did not meet the people’s need for mobility. For instance, Josef said, he once waited 30 minutes for a Transjakarta bus at the BNN busway stop, which disrupted his business activities.

PT Transportasi Jakarta president director Budi Kaliwono said the company would deploy 1,600 buses every day. He said this would be enough to handle the expected surge of passengers during the Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Andri said the BPTJ would deploy 204 additional buses. The agency had 1,038 reserve buses it had rented from several bus companies. The city administration also planned to deploy 50 tourist buses as public transportation to support Jakartans whose mobility was adversely affected by the odd-even policy and the tollgate closure.

Andri said the additional buses would be used to help visitors reach shopping centers and the central business district during the Asian Games (DEA/INK/KYR/JOG/E09/E11/E20)

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