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Wheel clamp policy a 'success' in getting a grip on illegal parking
The wheel-clamping policy reinforced by the city administration this week has already minimized illegal parking, an official said Friday
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The wheel-clamping policy reinforced by the city administration this week has already minimized illegal parking, an official said Friday.
Since Friday last week, 735 drivers have been ticketed, 10 vehicles towed and 55 vehicles clamped, said transportation agency official Riza Hashim.
"Today we ticketed 68 vehicles, while five cars were clamped and one was towed," he told The Jakarta Post.
Data received by the Traffic and Transportation Agency on Friday afternoon showed illegally parking had decreased.
Riza said the measure had effectively increased people's awareness of the administration's aim to fight illegal parking.
The policy to regulate illegal parking was first implemented in the capital in 2004, said Riza. On May 2, the city administration, cooperating with the Jakarta Police and the transportation agency, reinstated the policy.
Under the policy, officers patrol the city for illegally parked cars and motorcycles. When they find one, they give the owner 10 minutes to claim their vehicle and then give them a ticket. If the owners does not show up during the given time, the officers lock the vehicle's wheels or deflate the tires if it is a motorcycle.
The officers wait two hours before they tow the clamped cars to the transportation agency's nearest vehicle pool. The pools are located at Rawa Buaya and Daan Mogot in West Jakarta, Pulo Gebang in East Jakarta and Tanah Merdeka in North Jakarta, amongst others.
Limited clamps and tow cars, however, has meant the administration has focused on areas prone to congestion.
Riza said the administration had not been able to carry out the policy in all areas due to a lack of resources and facilities.
In 2004, the administration obtained 200 wheel clamps, he said. Around 150 are still functioning today.
Furthermore, Riza said, all tow trucks belonging to the administration were designed to tow public vehicles, not private cars which require more care.
"We need more facilities, especially new tow trucks, to continue the policy. Hopefully we will soon have two new tow trucks specifically designed for sedans," he said.
The budget to purchase new trucks has already been endorsed by the City Council, he said.
Some of the roads targeted include: Jl. Gadjah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk in West Jakarta; Jl. Gunung Sahari, Jl. Salemba and Jl. Samanhudi in Central Jakarta; Jl. Pemuda in East Jakarta; Jl. Mampang Prapatan and Jl. Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta; and Jl. Yos Sudarso and Jl. R.E. Martadinata in North Jakarta.(uwi)
